Ilma muuttui, joten minä suljen ikkunan.

The weather changed, so I close the window.

Breakdown of Ilma muuttui, joten minä suljen ikkunan.

• minä: I
• ikkuna: the window
• sulkea: to close
• joten: so
• muuttua: to change
• ilma: the weather

Questions & Answers about Ilma muuttui, joten minä suljen ikkunan.

Why is minä used here? Is it mandatory or can it be omitted?

The Finnish language allows you to omit personal pronouns if the context is clear because the verb ending usually indicates who is performing the action. In this sentence, suljen already indicates “I close.” Using minä emphasizes the subject more clearly, but it is not strictly required.

What does joten mean and how is it used?

joten roughly translates to “so” or “therefore.” It is a coordinating conjunction that connects two clauses, showing that the second part (closing the window) happens because of the first part (the weather changed). Other words like siksi (“therefore”) can serve a similar function, but joten is very common.

Why does suljen end with the letter n?

In Finnish, the first-person singular form of most verbs in the present tense ends with -n (for example, syön – “I eat,” opin – “I learn”). Here, suljen is the first-person singular form of sulkea (“to close”), so the final -n indicates the “I” form.

Is it correct to say Ilma muuttuu instead of Ilma muuttui?

Ilma muuttuu means “The weather changes/is changing,” which describes a present or ongoing change. Ilma muuttui is in the past tense, indicating the weather has already changed. If you want to emphasize a completed event in the past, muuttui is preferred.

Could I use Ilma vaihtui or Ilma oli muuttunut instead?

Both are possible but carry slightly different nuances. Ilma vaihtui suggests a change of weather, with vaihtua focusing on the idea of “to become replaced.” Ilma oli muuttunut (past perfect) suggests the weather “had changed,” possibly before another event. While understandable, they might not always convey exactly the same timing or emphasis as Ilma muuttui.