Breakdown of Äidin on aika maksaa vuokravakuus, jotta uusi asunto tulee käyttöön.
olla
to be
uusi
new
aika
time (concept, duration)
tulla
to come
äiti
mother
maksaa
to pay
jotta
so that / in order to
asunto
apartment
käyttö
use
vuokravakuus
rental deposit
Questions & Answers about Äidin on aika maksaa vuokravakuus, jotta uusi asunto tulee käyttöön.
Why is "mother" expressed in the genitive case (äidin) here?
In Finnish necessity constructions like on aika (it is time) and on pakko (it is necessary), the person who needs to perform the action—the logical subject—must be in the genitive case. Thus, "it is time for mother" becomes äidin on aika.
Why is the object vuokravakuus in the nominative case instead of the genitive-accusative (vuokravakuuden)?
Because of the necessity construction. When an object belongs to an infinitive that is governed by a necessity phrase (like äidin on aika maksaa), the object drops its normal genitive-accusative -n ending. It appears in the basic nominative form instead.
What is the difference between using jotta and että in this sentence?
Jotta specifically expresses purpose or intention, translating exactly to "so that" or "in order that". If you used että, it would just be a plain "that", which lacks the same strong sense of cause and effect. Jotta makes it clear that paying the deposit is the required step to get the apartment.
Why does the sentence use the illative case in käyttöön?
The verb tulla (to come / to become) frequently pairs with the illative case (the "into" case) when describing a change of state or entering a new condition. The idiom tulla käyttöön literally translates to "come into use" and is the standard way to say a space or item becomes available or operational.
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