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Questions & Answers about Lapsuus on kaunis.
How is the noun lapsuus formed, and what does the suffix -uus indicate?
Lapsuus is derived from the base noun lapsi (meaning "child") by adding the suffix -uus. This suffix turns the concrete noun into an abstract concept—much like adding -hood to child to form childhood in English. It's a common way in Finnish to express abstract ideas about a state or period of life.
What function does on serve in the sentence Lapsuus on kaunis?
The word on is the third person singular present form of the verb olla, which means "to be." In this sentence, it acts as the copula, linking the subject lapsuus with the predicate adjective kaunis. Essentially, it serves the same role as the English verb is.
Why is the adjective kaunis presented in its basic form despite describing lapsuus?
In Finnish, when an adjective is used as a predicate following a copula (like on), it typically remains in the nominative form. Although adjectives agree with nouns when used attributively, in a copulative construction they do not require additional case endings. Thus, kaunis stays in its base form to match lapsuus in a straightforward statement.
Is the word order in Lapsuus on kaunis fixed, or can it be altered?
Finnish word order is relatively flexible due to its rich inflectional system, which clearly marks the roles of words in a sentence. However, for clear and simple declarative sentences like this one, the standard structure is subject-copula-predicate. While alternate orders can be employed to add emphasis or stylistic nuance, Lapsuus on kaunis follows the typical and most neutral arrangement.
What pronunciation rules apply to lapsuus and kaunis in Finnish?
Finnish has a very predictable stress pattern: the primary stress almost always falls on the first syllable of each word. Therefore, lapsuus is pronounced with the stress on LAP, and kaunis with the stress on KAU. This rule helps learners anticipate the pronunciation of new vocabulary accurately.
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