Kun katson valokuvia, muistan ne tärkeät muistot.

When I look at photos, I remember those important memories.

Breakdown of Kun katson valokuvia, muistan ne tärkeät muistot.

• minä: I
• kun: when
• tärkeä: important
• muisto: the memory
• katsoa: to look
• valokuva: the photo
• muistaa: to remember
• ne: those

Questions & Answers about Kun katson valokuvia, muistan ne tärkeät muistot.

What does kun mean in this sentence, and what is its role?

Kun translates to “when” in English. It is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a temporal clause, setting the time frame for the main action.

Why is valokuvia in the partitive case instead of the nominative form?

In Finnish, the partitive case is often used with verbs that describe ongoing, habitual, or incomplete actions. Here, katson (“I look at”) suggests a process rather than a completed action, so valokuvia (photos) appears in the partitive to reflect that nuance.

How does the sentence indicate the subject “I” even though there’s no explicit pronoun like minä?

Finnish is a pro-drop language, which means that subject pronouns are usually omitted because the verb conjugation already makes the subject clear. The forms katson and muistan firmly indicate that the speaker is referring to themselves (I).

What function does the demonstrative pronoun ne serve in the second clause?

The pronoun ne functions as a demonstrative, meaning “those”. It refers back to specific memories linked to the photos. It emphasizes that the memories recalled are the important ones connected with the context provided.

Why do adjectives, such as tärkeät in tärkeät muistot, appear before the noun they modify in Finnish?

In Finnish, adjectives typically precede the noun they modify. The adjective tärkeät (“important”) comes before muistot (“memories”) to describe and qualify it, and it agrees with the noun in number and case.

Can you explain the overall structure of the sentence regarding its clauses?

The sentence is divided into two parts: a subordinate clause and a main clause. The subordinate clause “Kun katson valokuvia” (When I look at photos) sets a temporal condition, while the main clause “muistan ne tärkeät muistot” (I remember those important memories) presents the corresponding consequence or result.

Are there any additional grammar points in this sentence that might be useful for an English speaker learning Finnish?

Yes, besides the use of the partitive case and omitted subject pronouns, this sentence illustrates: • The typical placement of adjectives before nouns. • The use of demonstrative pronouns (like ne) to specify which items are being referred to. • How subordinate clauses, introduced by words like kun, work in tandem with main clauses to express clear, nuanced ideas. These elements are key features of Finnish sentence structure and can help learners understand how to build complex, meaningful sentences.