Breakdown of Sinä olet seitsemäs ja minä olen kolmas.
olla
to be
minä
I
sinä
you
ja
and
kolmas
third
seitsemäs
seventh
Questions & Answers about Sinä olet seitsemäs ja minä olen kolmas.
How do I change the number seven into the ordinal seventh (seitsemäs)?
For most numbers, you take the basic number, drop the final -n if there is one, and add -s. Since seven is seitsemän, you drop the -n and add -s to get seitsemäs.
The word for three is kolme. Why is third kolmas instead of kolmes?
The first three ordinal numbers are somewhat irregular in Finnish. First is ensimmäinen, second is toinen, and third is kolmas. From four (neljä) onwards, they follow the more regular pattern of ending in -s (like neljäs for fourth).
Could I drop the pronouns and just say: Olet seitsemäs ja olen kolmas?
Yes! Because the verb endings in olet (you are) and olen (I am) already tell us who the subject is, the pronouns sinä and minä are entirely optional. Including them in this sentence adds a nice emphasis and contrast: You are seventh, and I am third.
Why are the ordinal numbers here in their basic form (nominative) instead of the partitive case?
When using the verb olla (to be) to describe a specific, complete individual (like you or I), the describing word stays in the basic nominative case. You would use the partitive case for describing uncountable things or incomplete amounts, which doesn't apply when talking about singular people.
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