The Evaluative Structure
When you want to express that it is easy, difficult, or natural for someone to do something, Finnish uses a specific evaluative structure. Instead of the basic nominative, the person experiencing the feeling is placed in the genitive case.
The formula is:
- Genitive Subject
- olla (usually on) + Adjective
- 1st Infinitive
- olla (usually on) + Adjective
| It is natural for me to experience culture shock, but it is difficult for me to adopt the new practice. | Minun on luonteva kokea kulttuurišokki, mutta minun on vaikea omaksua uusi käytäntö. |
Different Subjects and Negation
This structure works with any noun or pronoun. For example, turisti (tourist) becomes turistin, and me (we) becomes meidän. If you need to make the sentence negative, simply use ei ole instead of on.
| It is not easy for the tourist to understand the unwritten practice in new situations. | Turistin ei ole helppo ymmärtää kirjoittamatonta käytäntöä uusissa tilanteissa. |
| It is good for us to think about adaptation after the culture shock. | Meidän on hyvä miettiä sopeutumista kulttuurišokin jälkeen. |
Navigating a New Culture
When adapting to a new country, you might experience culture shock or encounter unwritten rules. You can pair this structure with adjectives like vaikea (difficult), nolo (embarrassing), or mahdoton (impossible) to evaluate these experiences.
| It is difficult for me to accept your interpretation, because it is impolite. | Minun on vaikea hyväksyä tulkintaasi, koska se on epäkohtelias. |
| It is embarrassing for me to say an impolite word. | Minun on nolo sanoa epäkohtelias sana. |
| It is impossible for you to avoid culture shock if every gesture is new. | Sinun on mahdoton välttää kulttuurišokki, jos jokainen ele on uusi. |
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