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Questions & Answers about Loma kuulostaa rentouttavalta.
Why does rentouttavalta have the -lta ending instead of just being in its basic form?
The verb kuulostaa (to sound) is a perception verb. In Finnish, verbs about sensing (sounding, looking, feeling, tasting) require the word describing the feeling to be in the ablative case, which means adding the -lta or -ltä ending.
What is the base form of rentouttavalta, and how is it built?
The base word is rentouttava (relaxing). It is an adjective formed directly from the verb rentoutua (to relax). To say it sounds relaxing, you just take that base word and add the -lta ending.
How do I know whether to use -lta or -ltä for the ending here?
You choose based on vowel harmony. Because the word rentouttava contains the back vowels o, u, and a, the ending must also use a back vowel. Therefore, we use -lta.
Can I use this same grammar rule to say 'The holiday looks relaxing'?
Yes! The verb for 'to look like' is näyttää, which is also a perception verb. You would use the exact same ending: Loma näyttää rentouttavalta.