Breakdown of Aion ostaa uuden biljardikepin.
uusi
new
ostaa
to buy
aikoa
to intend, to be going to
biljardikeppi
the pool cue
Questions & Answers about Aion ostaa uuden biljardikepin.
Why is the object uuden biljardikepin in the genitive-looking accusative case instead of the partitive or nominative?
This is object case inheritance in action! In a verb chain, the object rules are dictated by the main finite verb. Since aion is a normal personal verb (1st person singular) and you are buying a complete, single item, the total object takes the -n ending (genitive-accusative).
Would the object case change if I said 'I have to buy a new pool cue' instead of 'I intend to'?
Yes, it would. If you change the main verb to a necessity structure like Minun täytyy ostaa, the finite verb is no longer a normal personal verb. In that case, the object of the infinitive must be in the nominative-looking accusative: Minun täytyy ostaa uusi biljardikeppi.
Why does keppi change to kepin in the compound word biljardikepin?
In Finnish compound words, only the final word inflects. The word keppi (stick or cue) is subject to quantitative consonant gradation. When the closed syllable genitive ending -n is added, the double -pp- weakens to a single -p-, resulting in kepin.
Does the verb aikoa always chain with the first infinitive like ostaa here?
Yes, aikoa (to intend) is part of a specific group of verbs that always govern the first infinitive (the dictionary form). Other common verbs in this group include haluta (to want), voida (to be able to), and osata (to know how).
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