Questions & Answers about Nuori mies juoksee kuntosaliin.
The lesson mentions -hVn and -seen endings for "into", so why does kuntosaliin just end in -in?
For most words ending in a short vowel, the illative ending is formed by simply doubling that last vowel and adding -n. The ending is technically -hVn (where V matches the last vowel of the word), but the h drops out. So kuntosali + -hin becomes kuntosaliin.
Could I use the allative case and say kuntosalille (to the gym) instead?
Usually, no. In Finnish, you use the internal location cases (like the illative "into") for enclosed spaces and buildings. Since a gym is a room you physically go inside, you run into it (kuntosaliin). You would use the external case (-lle) for open spaces like a yard or a market square.
The verb juoksee (runs) also ends in a double vowel. Is that the illative case too?
No, that is just a coincidence! The double vowel in kuntosaliin is part of the illative noun ending. The double vowel in juoksee is the standard way to form the "he/she" (third-person singular) present tense for many verbs. It comes from the dictionary form juosta (to run).
Is kuntosali a compound word?
Yes! It is made of two words: kunto (fitness or condition) and sali (hall or large room). Put them together, and a "fitness hall" is a gym!
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