Tuo koira on iso.

That dog is big.

Breakdown of Tuo koira on iso.

• olla: to be
• koira: the dog
• iso: big
• tuo: that

Questions & Answers about Tuo koira on iso.

What's the difference between 'tuo' and 'se'?

Tuo is used for something that is visible and relatively close (but typically not as close as something you'd refer to with tämä). Se can refer to something previously mentioned, something not necessarily in sight, or more generally something broader in context. In English, tuo often translates as "that" while se can translate as "it" or "that," depending on context.

Why is 'koira' in its basic form here? Why not 'koiran' or another form?

In Finnish, the noun is in the nominative case (koira) when it serves as the subject of a sentence without additional need for case marking. You only switch to forms like koiran (genitive) or other forms when you need to indicate possession, direct objects, or other grammatical functions.

Does 'on' literally mean "is," just like in English?

Yes. On is the third person singular form of the verb olla, which corresponds to the English "to be." So Tuo koira on iso literally translates to "That dog is big."

Is there any word order flexibility in Finnish for this sentence?

Yes, Finnish is relatively flexible with word order, but Tuo koira on iso is the most straightforward. You could see variations like Iso on tuo koira, but it might sound slightly more poetic or emphasize a different element. The common and most natural-sounding approach is subject + verb + adjective.

What's the difference between 'iso' and 'suuri'?

Both iso and suuri mean "big," but iso is more colloquial and frequently used, while suuri is somewhat more formal or literary. In everyday spoken language, you’ll hear iso more often, but the meanings are essentially the same.