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Questions & Answers about Haluan maata sohvalla.
Where is the Finnish word for English to in to lie?
It is built into maata.
In Finnish, the basic dictionary form of a verb is the first infinitive, and that form often corresponds to English to + verb.
So:
- haluan = I want
- maata = to lie
- haluan maata = I want to lie
Finnish does not use a separate word like English to here.
Why is there no word for I? Why not Minä haluan maata sohvalla?
Because haluan already tells you the subject is I.
The ending -n marks first person singular, so haluan means I want.
That is why Finnish often leaves out the subject pronoun when it is clear:
- Haluan maata sohvalla. = I want to lie on the sofa.
You can add minä for emphasis or contrast:
- Minä haluan maata sohvalla, mutta hän haluaa istua.
I want to lie on the sofa, but he/she wants to sit.
Why is it maata and not makaan or makaa?