Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Finnish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Miksi matkan täytyy loppua?
Why is the word for trip written as matkan instead of matka?
Because of the verb täytyy (must). In Finnish, verbs that express necessity require the subject to be in the genitive case, which adds an -n to the end of the word. So, matka becomes matkan.
How does the question word miksi affect the sentence order?
It doesn't change the order at all! You simply put miksi at the very beginning. The rest of the words stay in the exact same order as they would in a normal statement: matkan täytyy loppua (the trip must end).
Why is the verb loppua not conjugated?
Because it follows täytyy. Whenever you use a necessity verb like täytyy, the action verb that comes after it must be in its basic dictionary form (the infinitive). That is why we use loppua (to end) instead of a conjugated form.
Could I use the verb lopettaa here instead of loppua?
No, because they mean slightly different things. Loppua is used when something ends on its own, like a trip, a season, or a movie. Lopettaa is used when someone actively finishes or stops doing something. Since the trip itself is ending here, loppua is the right choice.