Breakdown of Paras keino oppia kieltä on puhua paljon.
puhua
to speak
paljon
a lot
oppia
to learn
kieli
language
paras
best
keino
means, method
Questions & Answers about Paras keino oppia kieltä on puhua paljon.
Why do we use the first infinitive oppia directly after the noun keino?
Keino (way, method, means) is an abstract noun that can directly take a first infinitive as its complement. This forms the phrase keino oppia (a way to learn). In Finnish, many abstract nouns expressing opportunity, necessity, or ability (like aika, lupa, or keino) link directly to this basic dictionary form of a verb.
Could I use a verbal noun here instead, like oppimiseen?
Yes, you could say Paras keino kielen oppimiseen... (The best way for the learning of a language...). However, using the first infinitive directly (keino oppia) is very common, natural, and often feels less heavy than using the fourth infinitive (-minen) structure, which would also require you to put the object into the genitive case (kielen).
Why is the object kieltä in the partitive case rather than the accusative or genitive?
Learning a language is typically viewed as an ongoing, continuous process rather than an action you complete entirely. Because the action is not bounded or strictly finished, the object takes the partitive case.
The sentence ends with on puhua paljon. Is it normal to have the verb olla followed immediately by an infinitive?
Yes, it is perfectly normal when the infinitive is acting as the subject complement (predicative). The structure here is literally '[The best way] is [to speak]'. The first infinitive puhua acts like a noun phrase telling you what that best way actually is.
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