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Questions & Answers about Leikkaan laudan sahalla.
Why does the word for saw (saha) have the -lla ending here?
This is the adessive case being used to express an instrument or tool. While the adessive often means 'on' or 'at' a location, in this sentence it does the job of the English word 'with'. Sahalla simply means 'with a saw'.
I learned that objects often take the partitive case. Why is the board (laudan) in the genitive-looking accusative case here?
Laudan is the total object. You use the -n ending here because you intend to complete a specific cutting action on the whole board. If you were just cutting some unspecified amount of board or if the action was ongoing without a clear end, you would use the partitive form lautaa.
What happened to the 't' from the dictionary form lauta (board)?
Adding the -n object ending closes the final syllable, which triggers consonant gradation. The strong consonant t softens to the weak consonant d, turning lauta into laudan.
Why does leikkaan (I cut) have a double kk when the infinitive leikata only has one k?