Breakdown of Kenelle laulajan pitää esiintyä tänään?
tänään
today
kenelle
to whom
pitää
must / have to
laulaja
singer
esiintyä
to perform
Questions & Answers about Kenelle laulajan pitää esiintyä tänään?
How is the word laulaja formed in this sentence?
The word for "singer" is laulaja. It is created by taking the strong stem of the verb laulaa (to sing), which is laula-, and adding the actor suffix -ja. This suffix works exactly like the English "-er" in "singer"!
Why is laulajan in the genitive case (ending in -n) instead of its basic form?
It is because of the verb pitää (to have to / must). In Finnish, sentences that express necessity require the person who "has to" do something to be in the genitive case. So, the basic form laulaja becomes laulajan.
Why does the sentence start with kenelle instead of kuka (who)?
Kenelle is the allative case (the "to/onto" case) of the question word kuka. The verb esiintyä (to perform) directs the action towards an audience, meaning you perform to or for someone. Therefore, "to whom" translates to kenelle.
Why is the verb esiintyä in its dictionary form instead of being conjugated?
When you use a necessity structure with pitää, the main action verb always stays in its basic infinitive dictionary form. The verb pitää handles the grammar, leaving esiintyä unchanged.
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