Tarvitsen laskinta sanakoetta varten.

I

Breakdown of Tarvitsen laskinta sanakoetta varten.

• tarvita: to need
• varten: for (purpose / intended for)
• sanakoe: the vocabulary test

Questions & Answers about Tarvitsen laskinta sanakoetta varten.

Why is laskinta used here instead of laskin?

Laskinta is the partitive singular of laskin (“calculator”). Finnish often uses the partitive case for the object of the verb tarvita (“to need”).

So:

• laskin = nominative (dictionary form)
• laskinta = partitive singular (“(some) calculator” as an object)

In this sentence, Tarvitsen laskinta literally means “I need (a) calculator”, with the object in partitive because the need is not presented as a clearly delimited, completed thing; it’s more like a general, ongoing need.

---

Could you also say Tarvitsen laskimen sanakoetta varten instead?

Yes, Tarvitsen laskimen sanakoetta varten is also grammatically correct.

• laskimen is the genitive singular, used as a total object.
• laskinta (partitive) is more open-ended / indefinite.
• laskimen (genitive) can sound a bit more specific, like “I need one specific calculator” or “the whole calculator as a complete object”.

In practice:

• Tarvitsen laskinta – neutral, everyday way to say “I need a calculator.”
• Tarvitsen laskimen – slightly more concrete/specific; still natural, especially if you mean a particular one.

Both are acceptable; many learners are first taught laskinta with tarvita, because partitive is very common with this verb.

---