Identifying Verb Type 5
Verb Type 5 consists of verbs ending in -ita or -itä.
To conjugate a Type 5 verb, find its stem by dropping the -ta or -tä and adding -tse-. Then attach the standard personal ending.
For example, with tarvita (to need):
- Drop -ta: tarvi-
- Add -tse-: tarvitse-
- Add the personal ending (e.g., -n for minä): tarvitsen
For the third-person singular (hän, se), the final vowel doubles. Because the stem always ends in -e, this form always ends in -ee (e.g., tarvitsee).
Negative Sentences
To form a negative sentence, use the negative verb (en, et, ei, emme, ette, eivät) followed by the stem. The stem for Type 5 verbs always ends in -tse.
To ask a yes/no question, add the question particle -ko or -kö directly to the fully conjugated verb.
No Consonant Gradation
Unlike some other verb types, Verb Type 5 never undergoes consonant gradation. The stem remains consistent across all forms.