Breakdown of Onko sinun unelmasi opiskella insinööriksi?
olla
to be
sinä
you
opiskella
to study
unelma
dream
insinööri
engineer
Questions & Answers about Onko sinun unelmasi opiskella insinööriksi?
Why does insinööri have the -ksi ending in this sentence?
The -ksi ending is the translative case, which is the focus of this lesson! It expresses a role or a change of state. When paired with verbs like opiskella (to study), it translates to 'to become [something]'. So, opiskella insinööriksi means 'to study to become an engineer'.
Why is there an -si at the end of unelmasi? Doesn't sinun already mean 'your'?
Yes, sinun means 'your'. However, in standard Finnish, you must use a possessive suffix on the noun to match the genitive pronoun. The -si is the suffix for 'your' (singular). While spoken Finnish often just says sun unelma, standard Finnish requires both parts: sinun unelmasi.
Why does the sentence start with Onko?
To make a yes/no question in Finnish, you take the main verb, attach the question particle -ko or -kö, and move it to the beginning. The statement form is Sinun unelmasi on (Your dream is), so the question becomes Onko sinun unelmasi (Is your dream).
Could I use the verb lukea (to read) instead of opiskella (to study) here?
Yes! It is very common in Finnish to use lukea when talking about studying for a specific profession. You will often hear native speakers say lukea insinööriksi (to study to become an engineer) just as much as opiskella insinööriksi.
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