Breakdown of Valitse portaat ja pakene ulos, mutta unohda hissi.
mutta
but
ja
and
ulos
out
unohtaa
to forget
valita
to choose
paeta
to flee
porras
step (of stairs)
hissi
elevator
Questions & Answers about Valitse portaat ja pakene ulos, mutta unohda hissi.
How do we get the command valitse from the dictionary form valita (to choose)?
Valita is a Type 5 verb. To form the informal command, you find the minä (I) form of the present tense, which is valitsen, and simply drop the -n. This leaves you with valitse.
What is the dictionary form of pakene, and how is its command form made?
The basic verb is paeta (to flee), which is a Type 6 verb. Even though it is a different verb type, you form the command the exact same way: take the minä form (pakenen) and drop the -n, giving you pakene.
Why does the command unohda have a -hd- instead of -ht- like its dictionary form unohtaa?
Unohtaa (to forget) is a Type 1 verb. The imperative uses the same weak consonant grade as the minä form (unohdan). Because of this consonant gradation, the strong -ht- softens to a weak -hd-, resulting in unohda.
Why are the objects portaat and hissi in their basic forms without any object endings?
This is a very important rule for commands! When you tell someone to do something using the imperative mood, the object of the sentence drops the usual -n ending. It looks exactly like the basic dictionary form.
Why does the sentence use ulos for 'outside' instead of ulkona?
Finnish uses different words depending on movement. Ulos implies movement, meaning 'out' or 'to the outside', which perfectly matches the action of fleeing (pakene). If you were already statically standing outside, you would use ulkona.
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