Question 1

Why does kiillotettavaksi end in -ksi, and what is its exact function here?

Accepted Answer

The ending -ksi is the translative case, which often expresses a role, purpose, or outcome. Here, it is attached to the passive present participle kiillotettava ('to be polished'). Together, the form kiillotettavaksi means 'for the purpose of being polished'.

Question 2

This sentence has two words with the -ttava / -ttävä marker (jätettävä and kiillotettavaksi). Are they doing the same grammatical job?

Accepted Answer

They are the exact same participle form, but they serve different roles here. Jätettävä is working with on to form a necessity structure (Sinun on jätettävä = 'You must leave'). Kiillotettavaksi is acting as a purpose modifier ('to be polished').

Question 3

Why is the subject sinun ('you') in the genitive case instead of the nominative sinä?

Accepted Answer

This is the classic Finnish necessity structure. To say someone must do something, Finnish uses the genitive for the person (sinun), the third-person singular of the verb olla (on), and the passive present participle of the action verb (jätettävä).

Question 4

Could I say kiillottamiseksi instead of kiillotettavaksi?

Accepted Answer

They mean slightly different things. Kiillotettavaksi uses the passive, so it specifically means the boots are left 'to be polished' by someone else. Kiillottamiseksi uses the verbal noun and means 'for the act of polishing', which misses the passive intent of a service being done to the boots.

Sinun on jätettävä myös saappaat kiillotettavaksi.

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