Question 1

How is the adjective vihreine formed here?

Accepted Answer

It comes from vihreä (green). To form the comitative modifier, we use the plural stem vihrei- and add the comitative suffix -ne. Notice that the adjective gets the -ne ending, but it does not take a possessive suffix. In the comitative case, only the head noun gets the possessive suffix.

Question 2

Break down the word kasveineen for me. Where does the -een come from?

Accepted Answer

It starts with the noun kasvi (plant). We take the plural stem kasvei-, add the comitative suffix -ne, and finally add the third-person possessive suffix -en (which lengthens the previous vowel to make -neen, meaning "its"). The comitative case always requires a possessive suffix on the main noun, even if we wouldn't explicitly say "its" in English.

Question 3

Why is upea in the singular when the sentence talks about multiple plants?

Accepted Answer

The main grammatical subject of the sentence is the singular noun terassi. The comitative phrase vihreine kasveineen functions as a descriptive modifier ("with its green plants"), not as an additional subject. Because the core subject is singular, the predicative adjective upea must also remain in the singular.

Question 4

Could I just use the word "kanssa" instead of this comitative structure?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can completely rephrase it as vihreiden kasvien kanssa. The comitative case is primarily used in written, formal, or highly descriptive Finnish. Using vihreine kasveineen here elevates the sentence, making it sound more elegant and fitting for describing a gorgeous (upea) terrace.

Avara terassi vihreine kasveineen on upea.

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