Question 1

Why is vajaat in the plural while kolme is singular?

Accepted Answer

This is exactly the trick with measurement approximations! In Finnish, the adjectives vajaat (just under / short of) and reilut (a good / just over) are idiomatically put in the plural when they precede a numeral in the nominative singular. It is a fixed pattern you simply have to memorize.

Question 2

Does the plural vajaat affect the verb form of haihtuu?

Accepted Answer

No, it doesn't. Even with the plural vajaat at the front of the phrase, the core of the subject is still the numeral kolme (three). Because subjects that are numerals (other than one) require a third-person singular verb, we use haihtuu, not the plural haihtuvat.

Question 3

Why is reagenssia in the partitive case?

Accepted Answer

This clause functions similarly to an existential sentence. The grammatical subject is the quantity itself (vajaat kolme grammaa). The substance that is evaporating is treated as an uncountable mass attached to that quantity, so it takes the partitive case (reagenssia).

Question 4

How would I say 'just over three grams' in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You would replace vajaat with reilut. It follows the exact same structural rule taught in this lesson: a plural adjective modifying a singular numeral, resulting in the phrase reilut kolme grammaa.

Question 5

Can kärsiä (to suffer) be applied to an inanimate concept like precision?

Accepted Answer

Yes, very naturally! Just like in English, kärsiä is widely used for abstract concepts degrading or taking a hit. You will frequently see phrases like laatu kärsii (the quality suffers) or tarkkuus kärsii (the precision suffers).

Tarkkuus kärsii varmasti, jos reagenssia haihtuu vajaat kolme grammaa.

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