Breakdown of Tässä yrityksessä riski taitaa olla suuri, mutta tuotto on hyvä.
tämä
this
olla
to be
mutta
but
hyvä
good
yritys
company
suuri
large, great
taitaa
to seem to, probably (does)
riski
the risk
tuotto
the return
Questions & Answers about Tässä yrityksessä riski taitaa olla suuri, mutta tuotto on hyvä.
Why do we use taitaa olla here instead of just saying on?
The verb taitaa is an epistemic modal verb, meaning it expresses probability or an assumption. By saying taitaa olla instead of just on (is), the speaker is saying "probably is" or "seems to be", showing they are making an educated guess.
What verb form comes after taitaa?
Like most modal verbs, taitaa requires the next verb to be in the basic dictionary form, known as the 1st infinitive. That is why we use olla right after it.
Since this lesson also teaches mahtaa, could I say riski mahtaa olla suuri?
You could, but it changes the tone. Taitaa expresses a probable assumption ("it seems the risk is high"). Mahtaa expresses curiosity or wondering aloud ("I wonder if the risk is high?"). Because the speaker is making a firm assessment here, taitaa fits much better.
Why does the word for company, yritys, change to yrityksessä?
Words ending in -us or -ys change their ending to -ukse- or -ykse- before adding case endings like the inessive -ssä (in). So the basic word yritys turns into the stem yritykse-, making yrityksessä.
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