Ystäväni ja minä kävelemme yhdessä.

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Breakdown of Ystäväni ja minä kävelemme yhdessä.

• minun: my
• ystävä: the friend
• ja: and
• kävellä: to walk
• yhdessä: together

Questions & Answers about Ystäväni ja minä kävelemme yhdessä.

What does the word ystäväni mean, and how is it formed?

Ystäväni is derived from the noun ystävä, which means friend. The ending -ni is a possessive suffix indicating my, so ystäväni translates to my friend. This construction replaces the separate word "my" found in English.

Why does the sentence include both ystäväni and minä when the verb kävelemme already implies a plural subject?

In Finnish, the verb conjugation often indicates the subject, allowing one to omit the pronoun. However, when multiple subjects are involved—as in ystäväni ja minä—each subject is mentioned for clarity and emphasis. This explicit inclusion distinguishes between the two individuals walking together.

How is the verb kävelemme conjugated, and what information does its ending provide about the subject?

Kävelemme is the first person plural present tense form of the verb kävellä (to walk). The ending -mme signals that the subject is we, indicating that both my friend and I are performing the action. This aligns the verb correctly with the compound subject.

What role does the word yhdessä play in the sentence?

Yhdessä is an adverb meaning together. It tells us that the walking is done jointly by the subjects. Although its placement at the end of the sentence is typical for emphasizing the manner of the action, Finnish word order is flexible, so its position can sometimes vary without changing the overall meaning.

Is there any significance to the order ystäväni ja minä instead of minä ja ystäväni?

Finnish word order is quite flexible, and the choice can depend on stylistic preference or emphasis. In this case, placing ystäväni first might subtly highlight the friend, but both orders are grammatically acceptable and convey the same meaning.