Question 1

How do we see the pluperfect passive tense in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The pluperfect passive is built using the third-person singular past tense of the verb to be, which is oli, and the passive past participle of the main verb, which is kätketty. Because this is an indirect question, oli gets the question suffix -ko to become oliko. Together, oliko kätketty translates to had been hidden.

Question 2

How does the word oliko act as the word if in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

In indirect questions asking if or whether, Finnish uses the question suffix -ko or -kö. It attaches to the word being questioned, which is usually the auxiliary verb, and that word moves to the front of the subordinate clause. So oliko literally asks had it been, which serves the exact same role as the word if in English.

Question 3

Since the letter is the thing being hidden, why is kirje in the basic nominative form instead of an object case?

Accepted Answer

In passive sentences, a total singular object is always put in the basic nominative case rather than the genitive-like accusative case. Because the action oli kätketty is passive, its object kirje takes the nominative form.

Question 4

The English translation says in the cellar, but kellariin means into the cellar. Why is the illative case used here?

Accepted Answer

In Finnish, verbs related to hiding, leaving, or forgetting something emphasize the movement toward the destination rather than the final resting place. Because you hide the letter into a place, the verb kätkeä requires the into case, which is the illative kellariin, rather than the static in case kellarissa.

Mies kysyi, oliko kirje kätketty kellariin.

Breakdown of Mies kysyi, oliko kirje kätketty kellariin.

Questions & Answers about Mies kysyi, oliko kirje kätketty kellariin.

Learn Mies kysyi, oliko kirje kätketty kellariin and more in Finnish