Minulla on koira, mutta kissa on poissa.

I have a dog, but the cat is away.

Breakdown of Minulla on koira, mutta kissa on poissa.

• minä: I
• olla: to be
• koira: the dog
• kissa: the cat
• mutta: but
• poissa: away

Questions & Answers about Minulla on koira, mutta kissa on poissa.

Why do we say Minulla on to mean I have?

In Finnish, possession is expressed by saying Minulla on (literally On me is). The adessive case (-lla/-llä) indicates that something is "at" or "on" the person, rather than using a verb like to have.

What does mutta mean, and why is it used here?

Mutta means but and is used to contrast two clauses. In this sentence, it connects the idea of having a dog with the fact that the cat is away or missing.

What exactly does poissa imply?

Poissa means away, absent, or gone. It indicates that the cat is not present or is missing, without specifying where it might be.

Is there a difference between saying Minulla on koira and Minulla on koirani?

Yes. Minulla on koira just states I have a dog, without specifying definiteness. If you use koirani (my dog), you're emphasizing that it's specifically yours, making it more personal or definite.

Why are koira and kissa in their basic forms (nominative case)?

In this sentence, both koira and kissa serve as the subjects of an existential clause (in the case of koira) and a simple linking clause (in the case of kissa). Since they're the things being described, they're in the nominative form rather than another case.