Breakdown of Me käytämme valepukua välttääksemme ansan.
me
we
käyttää
to use
välttää
to avoid
valepuku
disguise
ansa
trap
Questions & Answers about Me käytämme valepukua välttääksemme ansan.
How do we get the form välttääksemme from the verb välttää?
This is the structure used to express 'in order to' (the first infinitive translative). To form it, take the dictionary form of the verb (välttää), add the translative ending -kse-, and finally add the possessive suffix that matches the subject. Since the subject is Me (we), the suffix is -mme, giving us välttääksemme ('in order for us to avoid').
Why does välttääksemme need the -mme ending here?
In this specific 'in order to' structure, Finnish uses possessive suffixes instead of standard verb conjugation to show who is doing the action. Because the main subject is Me (we), the infinitive form välttääkse- must take the matching 1st person plural suffix -mme.
Why is valepukua in the partitive case, while ansan is in the genitive?
The case of each object is determined by its specific verb. The verb käyttää (to use) is a partitive verb, meaning its object must always be in the partitive case (valepukua). On the other hand, välttää (to avoid) takes a total object. Since avoiding the trap is seen as a complete action here, ansa gets the genitive-looking accusative ending -n, becoming ansan.
What words make up the compound noun valepukua?
It comes from the base word valepuku, which is a compound of vale (a lie or fake) and puku (a suit, dress, or outfit). Literally translated, a 'fake outfit' is a disguise!
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