Question 1

I thought yhä meant "still". Why does the translation say "increasingly"?

Accepted Answer

You are right that yhä on its own usually means "still" (as in hän on yhä täällä, "he is still here"). However, when you combine yhä with a comparative word like myöhemmin (later), the meaning changes to describe a continuous trend: "increasingly" or "more and more". Therefore, yhä myöhemmin translates to "increasingly late" or "later and later".

Question 2

What is the root of the verb itsenäistyvät?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the adjective itsenäinen (independent). In Finnish, adding the suffix -stuä or -styä to a noun or adjective creates a verb meaning "to become [that thing]". Thus, itsenäistyä means "to become independent".

Question 3

Why does the word for "later" end in -mmin (myöhemmin) instead of -mpi?

Accepted Answer

Because it is acting as an adverb here, describing when the action of the verb happens. The suffix -mpi is for comparative adjectives that describe nouns (like myöhempi juna, "a later train"). To make a comparative adverb, you use the suffix -mmin. So the adverb myöhään (late) becomes myöhemmin (later).

Question 4

Can you just use nuoret on its own to mean "young people"? Don't we need the word ihmiset?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can use it on its own. Just like saying "the young" in English, Finnish frequently uses plural adjectives acting as nouns to describe groups of people. Saying nuoret ihmiset wouldn't be grammatically wrong, but just nuoret is the most natural and common way to express this.

Nuoret itsenäistyvät yhä myöhemmin.

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