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Questions & Answers about Me odotamme liikennevaloja.
Why is the object liikennevaloja in the partitive case?
The verb odottaa (to wait for) is a partitive verb. It always requires its object to be in the partitive case because waiting is considered an ongoing, continuous action. Since we are waiting for multiple lights, it takes the partitive plural form.
How do we get the ending -oja in liikennevaloja?
The base word for traffic light is liikennevalo. To make the partitive plural, we add the plural marker -i- and the partitive ending -a. When the plural -i- is squeezed between two vowels (the o and the a), it changes into a -j-, which gives us the ending -oja.
Liikennevalo is a compound word. Why doesn't the liikenne part change to plural too?
In Finnish compound words, only the very last word takes the grammatical endings. Liikenne (traffic) stays in its basic dictionary form, while only valo (light) takes the partitive plural ending.
Is it mandatory to include the word me (we) in this sentence?
No, you can simply say Odotamme liikennevaloja. The verb ending -mme already makes it perfectly clear that the subject is we. Including me just adds a slight emphasis, as if saying that we in particular are the ones waiting.