Breakdown of Varotoimenpiteen ansiosta selvisimme.
selvitä
to survive
ansiosta
thanks to
varotoimenpide
the precautionary measure
Questions & Answers about Varotoimenpiteen ansiosta selvisimme.
Why is ansiosta used here rather than vuoksi or johdosta?
Ansiosta comes from the noun ansio, meaning merit or earning. Because of this, it always carries a positive, grateful connotation, matching the English phrase thanks to. Vuoksi and johdosta generally translate to because of or due to and are neutral or sometimes negative. Since surviving is a positive outcome, ansiosta is the most natural choice here.
The word varotoimenpiteen is quite long. How does it break down?
It is the genitive form of the compound word varotoimenpide. This is built from varo (caution or warning) and toimenpide (measure, procedure, or action). Notice the consonant gradation at the end: the d in -pide changes to t in the genitive form -piteen, creating varotoimenpiteen.
Does the base verb selvitä always mean to survive?
Not always, though that is a very common meaning when talking about accidents or hardships, as in selvisimme. It can also mean to clear up, like the weather, or to find something out or resolve something. For example, Asia selvisi means the matter was resolved or the truth came out.
Can the word ansiosta be placed before the noun it modifies?
No, ansiosta functions strictly as a postposition, so it must follow the noun. The noun must also be in the genitive case. Unlike some adpositions in Finnish that can act as either prepositions or postpositions, you will never see ansiosta placed before the noun.
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