Breakdown of Tuhmat lapset karkasivat huoneesta kontaten.
huone
room
lapsi
child
karata
to escape
tuhma
naughty
kontata
to crawl
Questions & Answers about Tuhmat lapset karkasivat huoneesta kontaten.
How do we form the word kontaten from the verb kontata?
To form the second infinitive instructive, you take the same stem used for the dictionary form, which uses the weak consonant grade. For the type 4 verb kontata (to crawl), the stem is kontat-. Then, you add the second infinitive marker -e- and the instructive ending -n, resulting in kontaten (crawling).
Could I use konttaamalla instead of kontaten to mean "crawling"?
Yes, but there is a slight difference in nuance. The second infinitive kontaten describes the physical manner of the action (they escaped in a crawling posture). The third infinitive konttaamalla usually emphasizes the method used to achieve a goal. For physical movement like this, the -en form is very common and natural.
Why does the verb karata (to escape) become karkasivat?
Karata is a verb type 4 word that undergoes reverse consonant gradation. The dictionary form has the weak grade, but the conjugated forms take the strong grade, adding a -k-. The stem becomes karkaa-, to which we add the past tense marker -si-, the plural marker -va-, and the personal ending -t.
Why is the elative case used for huoneesta?
The verb karata usually requires the elative case (-sta/-stä) to express where someone is escaping from. Since they are escaping from inside the room (huone), the word takes the elative ending and becomes huoneesta.
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