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Questions & Answers about Älä mene ulos!
Since the word for 'not' is usually en, et, or ei, why is it älä here?
In Finnish, the negative word is actually a verb that changes depending on who you are talking to. When giving a direct command to one person, you must use its special command form, which is älä.
How do I form the negative command for the main verb mene?
For a negative command directed at one person, you simply put älä in front of the affirmative command form. The main verb doesn't change! "Go!" is Mene! and "Don't go!" is Älä mene!.
How do we get the command form mene from the dictionary verb?
The dictionary form is mennä (to go, Verb Type 3). The easiest way to find the "you" (singular) command form for most verbs is to take the "I" form of the present tense (menen) and drop the -n. This leaves you with mene.
I have learned that ulkona means "outside". Why does this sentence use ulos?
Finnish uses different words depending on whether there is movement. Ulos is used when moving towards the outside (like going out a door). Ulkona is used when you are just physically located outside. Since the verb here is mene (go), we use the movement word ulos.