Breakdown of Kertolasku on tärkeä osa matematiikkaa.
olla
to be
tärkeä
important
osa
the part
matematiikka
mathematics
Questions & Answers about Kertolasku on tärkeä osa matematiikkaa.
Why is matematiikkaa in the partitive case?
When you want to say that something is a part of a broader, uncountable or abstract concept, Finnish uses the word osa followed by the partitive case. Here, osa matematiikkaa translates directly to a part of mathematics.
Could I use the elative case (matematiikasta) instead of the partitive here?
The elative case is typically used with osa when talking about a part of a specific group or a bounded whole, like osa meistä (a part of us). Because mathematics is a general, abstract concept, using the partitive case is much more natural.
How is the word kertolasku formed?
It is a compound word made from the root of the verb kertoa (which means both to multiply and to tell) and the noun lasku (a calculation or a bill). Together they mean multiplication.
Why isn't tärkeä osa in the partitive case to match matematiikkaa?
The phrase tärkeä osa describes the subject kertolasku, so they both stay in the basic nominative case. The partitive word matematiikkaa is just attached to osa to specify what it is a part of.