New concept
Three verbs + an infinitive
Modal verbs say what you can or want to do. As in English, they're followed by a second verb in its dictionary form — the infinitive:
| voida (can, be able) | osata (know how to) | haluta (want) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| minä | voin | osaan | haluan |
| sinä | voit | osaat | haluat |
| hän | voi | osaa | haluaa |
| me | voimme | osaamme | haluamme |
| te | voitte | osaatte | haluatte |
| he | voivat | osaavat | haluavat |
- Voin auttaa sinua. — I can help you.
- Osaan uida. — I can swim.
- Haluamme nähdä Lapin. — We want to see Lapland.
Only the first verb changes; the second stays as it is: haluan mennä, never haluan menen.