Breakdown of Valitsemme löytöeläintalosta jommankumman koiran.
koira
dog
valita
to choose
löytöeläintalo
the animal shelter
jompikumpi
either (of two)
Questions & Answers about Valitsemme löytöeläintalosta jommankumman koiran.
Why is the pronoun jompikumpi written as jommankumman here?
Jompikumpi means 'either' (of two). When used as a total object for an action that will be completed, it takes the genitive/accusative -n ending. The tricky part about these dual pronouns is that both halves must be inflected: the first half jompi becomes jomman, and the second half kumpi becomes kumman.
Why is the word for dog koiran instead of the partitive koiraa?
The verb valita (to choose) usually takes a total object because the action results in a completed outcome (you pick one specific dog and the choosing is done). Since the object is singular, we use the genitive/accusative ending -n, which is why both the pronoun and the noun become jommankumman koiran.
What are the exact parts that make up the long compound word löytöeläintalosta?
It is built from löytö (a find or discovery), eläin (animal), and talo (house). Together, löytöeläintalo is the word for 'animal shelter'. The -sta suffix is the elative case, indicating that the dog is chosen 'from' or 'out of' the shelter.
The English translation says 'We will choose', but valitsemme is the present tense form. How do we know it refers to the future?