Minä haluan työskennellä ulkona.

I want to work outside.

Breakdown of Minä haluan työskennellä ulkona.

• minä: I
• ulkona: outside
• haluta: to want
• työskennellä: to work

Questions & Answers about Minä haluan työskennellä ulkona.

Why is the subject pronoun Minä explicitly included, even though verb conjugations in Finnish already indicate the subject?

In Finnish, the verb form haluan clearly shows that the subject is first-person singular, so the subject pronoun Minä is not strictly required. However, it is often included for emphasis or clarity—especially for learners—to avoid any ambiguity and to reinforce who is performing the action.

Why is the main verb työskennellä in its base (infinitive) form rather than a conjugated form?

When using modal verbs like haluan (meaning “I want”), Finnish grammar requires the following main verb to be in its infinitive form. This construction is similar to English, where after saying “I want,” you use the base form of the verb (as in “to work”). In this case, työskennellä means “to work” and remains unaltered because the modal verb carries the necessary conjugation.

What does the word ulkona mean, and what is its grammatical function in the sentence?

Ulkona translates to “outside” or “outdoors.” It functions as an adverbial element that explains the location where the action (working) takes place. Unlike many other parts of speech in Finnish, adverbs like ulkona maintain a fixed form regardless of their role in the sentence.

What tense and person is represented by the verb haluan?

Haluan is the first-person singular present form of the verb haluta (“to want”). It directly conveys the idea “I want” and shows subject-verb agreement through its conjugation in the present tense.

Is it acceptable to omit the explicit subject Minä in everyday Finnish, and if so, why?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to drop the subject Minä because the conjugated verb haluan already implies that the speaker is “I.” Native speakers often omit the subject in casual conversation. However, including the subject can be useful for emphasis or when a clear distinction of the subject is needed, which is especially helpful for language learners.