Breakdown of Onko lempinimesi Karhu, koska kaikki kutsuvat sinua Karhuksi?
olla
to be
sinä
you
koska
because
kaikki
all, everything, everyone
karhu
bear
lempinimi
nickname
kutsua
to call (someone something)
Questions & Answers about Onko lempinimesi Karhu, koska kaikki kutsuvat sinua Karhuksi?
Why is Bear Karhu in the first clause but Karhuksi in the second?
In the first half, it is simply the subject complement of the verb olla (to be), so it takes the basic nominative case. In the second half, it is governed by the verb kutsua (to call). Verbs of naming, appointing, or electing require the name or role to be in the translative case, which adds the -ksi ending.
Why is the word for you in the partitive case (sinua)?
The verb kutsua requires its object to be in the partitive case. Since you are the object being called a name, the basic pronoun sinä becomes the partitive sinua.
Does the verb kutsua also mean to call on the phone?
No, kutsua only means to call in the sense of addressing someone by a name, or to invite someone to an event. If you want to talk about calling someone on the phone, you need to use the verb soittaa.
How does the word lempinimesi work, and where is the word for your?
Lempinimesi is a compound of lempi (favorite) and nimi (name), plus the possessive suffix -si (your). Because the suffix -si clearly indicates your, the separate genitive pronoun sinun is completely optional in standard Finnish and is left out here.
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