Se is used of the third person if anything but a human being is spoken of. Missä on koira? Se ei ole huoneessa, where is the dog? He’s not in the room. Ne kalat ovat pienet, these fish are small. Mitä pidätte siitä, what do you think of it? In popular language and in the Kalevala it is also used as the equivalent of hän. Se puhuu totta, he speaks the truth. Se mies joka paikkansa pitää (proverb), he is a man who keeps his place. It is also used adjectively to emphasize a word, and often corresponds to our article. Se koira vinkasi johon kalikka kävi, the dog who is hit howls (proverb).
Reflexive Pronouns.
The reflexive pronoun in Finnish is supplied by the oblique cases of Itse, self, always with the addition of the proper possessive affix. The genitive, however, is rarely used, and only with prepositions. Ostin itselleni hatun, I bought myself a hat. Itsestänsä paha pappi saarnaa (proverb), a bad priest preaches about himself. Tunne itsesi, know thyself. Auta itseäsi ja jumala sinua auttaa, help yourself and God will help you. Vide below (p. [170]) for other uses of this word itse.
The genitive of the reflexive pronoun is supplied by the adjective oma, own, corresponding to the Russian свой. The noun qualified by this adjective takes the proper pronominal affix. Minä otin oman osani, ja hän ei sinun osaasi ottanut vaan oman osansa, I took my share, and he did not take your share, but his own share. Oma has not always the reflexive meaning, but is used simply for emphasis as ‘my own,’ etc. in English. Tämä on minun oma taloni, this is my own cottage. Omat on virret oppimani, omat saamani sanaiset. It is also used without reference to a definite subject to mean ‘one’s own.’
Omat maat makuisimmat
Omat metsät mieluisimmat.
One’s own lands are more pleasant and one’s own forests sweeter (than those of others).
Interrogative Pronouns.
(1) Kuka is a substantive. The nominative singular and plural means who? and is only used of persons. The remaining cases kussa, kusta, kuhun or kunne, kuin, kun, etc., are mostly used as particles. Kuka luulisi häntä niin viekkaaksi? Who would have thought him so clever? Kutka tuolta tulevat? Who come from there?
(2) Ken is identical in meaning with kuka, being also a substantive and only used of persons. The nominative is rarely used, but the oblique cases supply those of kuka. Kenen kirja tämä on? Whose book is this? Kenellähän olisi rahaa? Who is likely to have any money?