Breakdown of Luullakseni he puhuvat vanhasta sekaannuksesta.
he
they
vanha
old
puhua
to speak
sekaannus
mix-up
Questions & Answers about Luullakseni he puhuvat vanhasta sekaannuksesta.
How is luullakseni formed here?
It is built from the verb luulla (to think or suppose). It uses the translative form of the first infinitive (-kse-) followed by the first-person singular possessive suffix (-ni). While it literally looks like 'for my supposing', it functions as a fixed sentence adverb meaning 'I suppose' or 'as far as I believe'.
Can I use minun mielestäni instead of luullakseni in this sentence?
They convey different nuances. Luullakseni is used to express a guess or uncertainty about a fact, like 'I suppose' or 'I assume'. Minun mielestäni expresses a firm personal opinion, like 'in my opinion'. Because the speaker is guessing what the others are talking about, luullakseni is the most natural choice here.
Why are vanha and sekaannus in the elative case (-sta)?
The verb puhua (to speak or talk) requires the elative case when you want to say you are talking 'about' something. The adjective vanha must agree with the noun it modifies, so both take the -sta ending to form vanhasta sekaannuksesta.
What is the stem change happening when sekaannus becomes sekaannuksesta?