Expressions requiring a non-SVO order

The following clause types have an order other than SVO order as their basic order, namely a VS order (a verb and a subject, normally preceded by a predicative or an adverbial):

• Presence clauses, as described in the preceding section, e.g. Keittiössä on hiiri (There is a mouse in the kitchen). These clauses lack an object, and they have VS order.
• Possessive clauses, corresponding to English clauses with the verb “to have”. They are similar to presence clauses but also indicate, with the adessive form (llA suffix) a person or being that “possesses” the object, e.g. Minulla on hiiri (I have a mouse). Though minulla in such a statement is often called “logical subject”, it is grammatically an adverbial.
• Possessive clauses containing a noun in the inessive (ssA suffix). These clauses do not normally express casual possession but an inherent relationship of having something as a part, e.g. Makkarassa on kaksi päätä (A sausage has two ends). These can be characterized as indicating “permanent presence”.
• When answering a yes/no question that has the predicate as the focus word, with the interrogative kO question, an idiomatic answer starts with the predicate. Thus, if the subject is also included, the word order is reversed. Example: Tuliko kirjeeni perille ajoissa? – Tuli se. (Did my letter arrive in time? Yes it did.) Here the answer could consist of the predicate tuli (came) alone; but if a subject, here se (it) is included, it is normally placed after the predicate. However, if the answer starts with kyllä (yes), normal order is used, e.g. Kyllä se tuli.