Auto likaantuu, koska se on ulkona.

to be

Breakdown of Auto likaantuu, koska se on ulkona.

• auto: the car
• ulkona: outside
• koska: because
• se: it
• likaantua: to get dirty

Questions & Answers about Auto likaantuu, koska se on ulkona.

What does likaantuu mean and how is it formed?

Likaantuu is the third person singular present form of the verb likaantua, which means to get dirty or to become dirty. The form shows that the subject (the car) is undergoing the process of becoming dirty, reflecting a change in state.

Why is the pronoun se used in the subordinate clause instead of repeating auto?

In Finnish, once a noun like auto (car) has been introduced, it’s common practice to use a pronoun like se in subsequent clauses. This avoids redundancy and makes the sentence flow naturally by referring back to the previously mentioned noun.

What is the function of the conjunction koska in this sentence?

Koska translates to because in English. It introduces a subordinate clause that explains the reason for the main clause’s situation—in this case, why the car gets dirty.

Why is there a comma before koska?

According to Finnish punctuation rules, a subordinate clause introduced by a conjunction such as koska is set off from the main clause by a comma. This comma helps clearly demarcate the two parts of the sentence.

What does ulkona mean and what role does it play in the sentence?

Ulkona means outside. It functions as an adverb that indicates the location where the car is situated, which, in turn, explains the condition that leads the car to get dirty.

Why doesn’t the sentence include an article (like the) before auto?

Finnish does not have articles (such as the or a), so nouns like auto appear without them. The definiteness or indefiniteness of a noun in Finnish is inferred from context rather than through specific articles.