Finnish sentences are formed of the same elements as those found in other
European languages—subjects, predicates, objects, attributes, etc.; but,
as the simplest phrases offer certain peculiarities, it is well, before
analysing the use of the various forms, to give some general rules.
_The Subject._
I. The Subject is in the nominative case if it is _total_, that is to
say, if something is predicated of the whole of the subject. Thus,
=ihmiset kuolevat=, _men die_, because the verb applies to the whole
race of men; =lapset tulevat=, _the children come_, that is to say,
_all the children in question_. Personal pronouns and a substantive in
the singular always are in the nominative, when subject to a sentence.
In other words, the subject is put in the nominative, (1) when the
proposition is universal. =Ihmiset kuolevat=, _men die_; =linnut
lentävät=, _birds fly_. (2) When it is preceded by the definite article
or other determinative adjective in English. =Sotamiehet läksivät=,
_the soldiers set out_; =nämät pojat olevat ahkerat=, _these boys are
industrious_. (3) When the subject is a single definite substantive or
pronoun, which is really the same as the case of an universal proposition.
II. But the subject is put in the partitive case, if something is
predicated, not of its whole extent, but of part of it. Thus, one says
=viini on hyvää=, _wine is good_; =viini on pöydällä=, _the wine is on
the table_; but =viiniä on pöydällä=, _there is some wine on the table_.
Similarly, =miehet tulevat=, _the men are coming_; but =miehiä tulee=,
_some men are coming_.