Breakdown of Yksi sotilas voi voittaa pelin.
yksi
one
peli
game
voida
can, to be able to
voittaa
to win
sotilas
pawn
Questions & Answers about Yksi sotilas voi voittaa pelin.
Why does sotilas mean "pawn" in this sentence instead of "soldier"?
In Finnish chess terminology, the pawn piece is called sotilas (which literally translates to "soldier" in everyday contexts).
Why is the object pelin instead of the partitive peliä?
The verb voittaa (to win) takes a total object here, which takes the genitive-looking accusative case. This is because winning a game is a completed, bounded action. If the action were ongoing or incomplete, it would require the partitive case.
Why is the main verb voittaa in its basic dictionary form?
It follows the auxiliary verb voi (from voida, meaning "can" or "to be able to"). Just like in English, after voida, the second verb is always in its first infinitive form.
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