Questions & Answers about Olemme kassalla jonottamassa.
Why does this sentence use jonottamassa instead of just saying jonotamme?
While jonotamme can mean 'we wait in line' or 'we are waiting', using the verb olla (here, olemme) plus the third infinitive -massa ending puts a strong emphasis on the action happening right at this exact moment. It is the Finnish equivalent of saying 'we are currently in the middle of waiting in line'.
How do you form the -massa ending for the verb jonottaa (to wait in line)?
You take the strong vowel stem of the verb. For jonottaa, the stem is jonotta-. Then you just add the -massa suffix. Because of vowel harmony rules, it takes the back-vowel version -massa rather than -mässä.
Why is it kassalla and not kassassa?
In Finnish, locations that are open areas, surfaces, or general service stations like a checkout counter take the adessive ending -lla/-llä (at/on). If you said kassassa, it would mean you are physically standing inside the cash register machine!
Can I change the word order to Olemme jonottamassa kassalla?
Yes, the word order in Finnish is quite flexible and that sentence is perfectly correct. However, placing the location (kassalla) before the action (jonottamassa) is a very natural habit in Finnish, as it sets the scene first before describing what is happening there.
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