Question 1

How do we get the exact spelling of olkapäähäni from the base word olkapää (shoulder)?

Accepted Answer

This word has two endings. First, we add the illative ("into") case ending -hän, making olkapäähän. Next, we add the possessive suffix -ni to match minun (my). Here is the tricky part: when adding a possessive suffix to a word in the illative case, the final -n of the case ending is dropped. So, olkapäähän + ni becomes olkapäähäni. You use this exact same dropping rule when inflecting postpositions with possessive suffixes!

Question 2

Why do we use the "into" case (olkapäähäni) when the English translation says to lean "on" the shoulder?

Accepted Answer

In Finnish, the verb nojata (to lean) dictates the case of the word it points to. It strictly requires the target to be in the illative (the "into" or "toward") case. While English speakers think of resting their weight on something, Finnish speakers think of directing it into something.

Question 3

Why is the verb nojata in its basic dictionary form here?

Accepted Answer

Because it follows voitko (can you). When you use the verb voida (to be able to / can), the main action verb in the sentence stays in its basic infinitive form, exactly like in English.

Question 4

Do I have to say Voitko sinä, or is just Voitko enough?

Accepted Answer

Just Voitko is perfectly fine! The -t ending on the verb already tells us the subject is "you". Including the pronoun sinä is optional and just adds a little bit of emphasis to the person you are asking.

Voitko sinä nojata minun olkapäähäni ryhmäkuvassa?

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