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Questions & Answers about Nainen puhuu suomea.
Why is there no word for a or the before nainen?
Finnish does not have articles like a or the, so nouns simply appear without words in front of them. Context typically explains whether someone means “a woman” or “the woman.”
Why does nainen come first in the sentence? Can the order change?
In Finnish, the topic (often the subject) generally comes first. However, word order in Finnish is more flexible than in English. You could rearrange the words for emphasis, but Nainen puhuu suomea is the most straightforward form.
In puhuu, how does the verb ending work?
Puhua is the basic form (infinitive), and when conjugated in the third person singular (he/she/it/“the woman”), it becomes puhuu. The -u changes to -uu following standard conjugation rules in Finnish for this verb type.
Why is suomea written with an -a at the end?
The -a ending on suomi shows the partitive case, which is typically used after verbs like puhua (to speak). In Finnish, the object often appears in the partitive when the action is ongoing and not completed.
Does this sentence literally translate as “Woman speaks Finnish”?
Yes, if you translate it word-for-word. But remember that Finnish lacks articles, so Nainen puhuu suomea can mean either “A woman speaks Finnish” or “The woman speaks Finnish,” depending on context.
How might I say “The woman speaks Finnish well”?
You would add an adverb to indicate “well.” For example, Nainen puhuu suomea hyvin. The sentence structure remains the same, but hyvin (well) is added before or after suomea.