Breakdown of Satuimme löytämään vanhan kirjan ullakolta.
kirja
book
vanha
old
löytää
to find
sattua
to happen (by chance)
ullakko
attic
Questions & Answers about Satuimme löytämään vanhan kirjan ullakolta.
Why does the second verb take the -mään ending (löytämään) instead of being the basic dictionary form?
When the verb sattua is used to mean 'to happen to do something', it dictates that the following verb must be in the third infinitive illative form, which ends in -maan or -mään.
Why is 'in the attic' translated as ullakolta (from the attic) rather than ullakolla (on the attic)?
In Finnish, the verb löytää (to find) requires you to find things from a location. This means you must use a 'from' case (elative or ablative). Since attics typically take the outer location cases in Finnish, you find the book 'from' the attic (ullakolta).
Why is the object vanhan kirjan in the genitive-like accusative form here?
Even though löytämään is an infinitive, it still takes a standard total object. Because the main sentence is affirmative and the action is completed (a whole book was found), the object takes the -n ending.
I know sattua can also mean 'to hurt'. How can I tell which meaning is intended here?
Grammar and context are your best clues! When sattua means 'to happen to', it is almost always followed by another verb in the -maan/-mään form. When it means 'to hurt', it usually takes an allative subject (like minuun sattuu, 'it hurts me') and isn't followed by another action verb.
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