Voisitko sulkea ikkunan myöhemmin?

Could you close the window later?

Breakdown of Voisitko sulkea ikkunan myöhemmin?

• sinä: you
• ikkuna: the window
• voida: to be able to
• sulkea: to close
• myöhemmin: later

Questions & Answers about Voisitko sulkea ikkunan myöhemmin?

Why is Voisitko used here instead of a simpler form like Voitko?

Voisitko is the conditional form of voida (to be able to). Using the conditional form gives the sentence a more polite tone, similar to saying Could you in English instead of Can you.

Why is ikkunan in that form instead of something like ikkuna?

Ikkunan is the genitive form of ikkuna when used as an object. In Finnish, definite direct objects often take the genitive form, which here indicates that you want the action (closing) done to the window specifically and completely.

Why is sulkea in its basic form instead of something like suljen or suljet?

In Finnish, when one verb follows another (like voisitko followed by sulkea), the second verb typically remains in its infinitive form. This is similar to English when you say Could you close... rather than Could you closes....

Can I say Voisitko sulkea ikkunan without myöhemmin?

Yes, you can. Omitting myöhemmin changes the meaning slightly to a more immediate request (similar to “Could you close the window?”). Myöhemmin simply specifies that the action can be done at a later time.

How can I emphasize urgency or immediacy instead of saying myöhemmin?

Instead of myöhemmin, you can use expressions like nyt (now) or heti (right away). For example, Voisitko sulkea ikkunan heti? means “Could you close the window right now?”