Object case in verb chains

Standard Verbs vs. Necessity Verbs

When a sentence contains a chain of verbs, the first verb in the chain (the main verb) determines the grammatical case of the object.

With standard verbs like aikoa (to intend) or voida (to be able to), a complete object takes the genitive case, ending in -n.

I intend to buy a new pool cue.
Aion ostaa uuden biljardikepin.
Now you can pot the white ball.
Nyt voit pussittaa valkoisen pallon.

If the main verb is a necessity verb—such as täytyy (must), pitää (have to), or kannattaa (should)—the sentence has no grammatical subject in the nominative case. Instead, the person who "must" do something is in the genitive. Because of this structure, the complete object takes the nominative case (the basic dictionary form) without the -n suffix.

He has to buy a new pool cue.
Hänen täytyy ostaa uusi biljardikeppi.
I have to make the break shot.
Minun täytyy tehdä aloituslyönti.

The Negative Exception

As always in Finnish, if the sentence is negative, the object must be in the partitive case. This rule overrules any verb chain rules. Even if the sentence uses a necessity verb that normally triggers a nominative object, making it negative requires the partitive.

You must not pot the white ball!
Sinun ei pidä pussittaa valkoista palloa!

Inherent Partitive Verbs

Some verbs, like pelata (to play a game), naturally demand a partitive object. When such a verb appears in a verb chain, its object remains in the partitive case, completely ignoring the necessity or standard verb at the start of the chain.

I must know how to play billiards.
Minun täytyy osata pelata biljardia.