Questions & Answers about Minulla on vain yksi karkki.
Why is karkki in the basic form here? Shouldn't it be in the partitive case after a number?
The partitive rule you are learning only applies to numbers 2 and higher. Because the number here is yksi (one), the noun stays in its basic form. If you had two candies, the rule would kick in and it would be kaksi karkkia.
Why is the word for I (minä) written as minulla here?
Finnish does not have a direct verb for to have. Instead, you add the ending -lla (meaning on or at) to the owner, followed by the verb on (is). So minulla on literally means on me is.
Does the word vain always go in the middle of the sentence?
Not always. Vain (only) is placed right before the exact word it emphasizes. Here, it is right before yksi karkki because you are emphasizing the amount. If you moved it to the front and said Vain minulla on yksi karkki, it would change the meaning to Only I have one candy.
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