Two of a Kind
Welcome to the optometrist! In this lesson, we are checking your vision and learning how to use the pronoun molemmat (both). Because "both" inherently refers to two things, it always behaves as a plural word.
| both (of them) | molemmat |
| The optometrist examined both eyes. | Optikko tutki molemmat silmät. |
The Shifting Stem: -mpi- vs. -mmi-
When molemmat modifies a noun, both words take the exact same plural case ending. The pronoun's stem shifts based on consonant gradation:
- Strong stem (-mpi-): Used when the ending leaves the syllable open.
- Weak stem (-mmi-): Used when the ending closes the syllable.
| Case | Pronoun Form | Stem Type |
|---|---|---|
| Genitive | molempien | Strong (-mpi-) |
| Partitive | molempia | Strong (-mpi-) |
| Illative | molempiin | Strong (-mpi-) |
| Inessive | molemmissa | Weak (-mmi-) |
| Adessive | molemmilla | Weak (-mmi-) |
| Ablative | molemmilta | Weak (-mmi-) |
Let's see the strong stem in action with the genitive case ("of both"):
| The vision of both eyes is blurry. | Molempien silmien näkö on sumea. |
The Weak Stem (-mmi-)
When we use local cases that close the syllable, the mp in the stem weakens to mm. For example, when asking if things look clear "in both", we use the inessive case (-ssa / -ssä).
| Are the letters clear in both lenses? | Ovatko kirjaimet selkeitä molemmissa linsseissä? |
More Strong Stems: Illative and Partitive
Because the illative and partitive endings do not close the syllable, they retain the strong -mpi- stem.
| We put eye drops in both eyes. | Laitamme silmätippoja molempiin silmiin. |
| The eye drops helped both eyes yesterday. | Silmätipat auttoivat molempia silmiä eilen. |
More Weak Stems: Adessive and Ablative
Finally, when talking about reading "with both" (adessive) or asking "from both" (ablative), the case endings close the syllable, triggering the weak -mmi- stem.
| I read the small letters with both lenses. | Luin pienet kirjaimet molemmilla linsseillä. |
| The optometrist asked both customers about the lenses. | Optikko kysyi molemmilta asiakkailta linsseistä. |