Questions & Answers about Minä en ole bussissa.
Why does this use -ssa instead of -ssä?
Finnish uses vowel harmony. Because the word bussi has the back vowel u, the ending must also use a back vowel, making it -ssa. The vowel i is neutral, so it doesn't change the harmony.
The translation says "on the bus", but doesn't -ssa mean "in"?
Yes, the ending -ssa literally means "in" or "inside". English speakers say they are "on" a bus or train, but Finnish is more literal: you are physically inside the vehicle, so you use bussissa.
Does the word bussi change before adding the -ssa ending?
No, it doesn't! bussi is a word whose stem doesn't change (it doesn't have consonant gradation). Since it already ends in a vowel, you simply attach -ssa directly to the basic dictionary word.
Why is it en ole instead of just using the word ei for "not"?
In Finnish, "not" is a verb that changes depending on the subject. Because the subject is minä (I), you must use the "I" form of the negative verb, which is en. The main verb ole stays in its base form.