Breakdown of Vuorottelemme, kun suuntaamme kaupunkiin.
kaupunki
city
kun
when (conjunction)
vuorotella
to take turns
suunnata
to head
Questions & Answers about Vuorottelemme, kun suuntaamme kaupunkiin.
The verb suuntaamme comes from suunnata. Why does the double n change to nt?
Suunnata (to head / direct) is a type 4 verb. In type 4 verbs, the consonant gradation works "in reverse" compared to type 1 verbs: the infinitive has the weak grade (nn), while the conjugated forms take the strong grade (nt). That gives us the stem suuntaa- and the form suuntaamme (we head).
How is the verb vuorottelemme (we take turns) constructed?
It is built from the noun vuoro (a turn). Adding the verb suffix -tella creates vuorotella, which means doing something repeatedly or taking turns. As a type 3 verb, its stem becomes vuorottele-, giving us vuorottelemme.
Why is kaupunkiin in the illative (into) case rather than the allative (onto) case here?
When using verbs of directional motion like suunnata, you generally use the illative case (-iin, -aan, etc.) for enclosed or defined destinations like a city (kaupunkiin) or a building. You would use the allative (-lle) for open spaces or surfaces, such as suuntaamme torille (we head to the market square).