Nainen on kiinnostava.

The woman is interesting.

Breakdown of Nainen on kiinnostava.

• olla: to be
• nainen: the woman
• kiinnostava: interesting

Questions & Answers about Nainen on kiinnostava.

Why does the sentence "Nainen on kiinnostava" not include an article before "nainen," while in English we normally say "The woman is interesting"?

In Finnish there are no articles—there is no equivalent for English “a” or “the.” The noun "nainen" simply means woman, whether you mean “a woman” or “the woman.” Context provides the necessary specificity.

What is the role of the word "on" in this sentence?

"On" is the third person singular form of the verb "olla" (to be). It serves as the copula, linking the subject "nainen" with its predicate adjective "kiinnostava." Without this linking verb, the sentence wouldn’t be complete in Finnish.

Why does the adjective "kiinnostava" remain in its basic form? Does it show any agreement with the subject "nainen"?

When adjectives are used in the predicate position—as in "Nainen on kiinnostava"—they remain in the nominative form and do not change to agree in number or case with the subject. In contrast, adjectives used attributively (directly before a noun) might show agreement. In the predicative case, no extra inflection is necessary.

How does the word order in "Nainen on kiinnostava" compare to a typical English sentence?

The word order follows the common subject–verb–complement structure found in English. "Nainen" (subject) comes first, followed by "on" (verb), and then "kiinnostava" (predicate adjective). Although Finnish allows for more flexibility in word order, this basic structure is straightforward and mirrors the English "The woman is interesting."

If a student wants to emphasize the descriptive quality of the subject, why is using a predicate adjective like "kiinnostava" effective in Finnish?

Using a predicate adjective like "kiinnostava" clearly assigns a specific quality to the subject by following the copula "on." It directly tells the listener that interest or engaging quality is the characteristic being highlighted about the woman. This structure leaves little room for ambiguity, as the adjective is the explicit descriptor linked to the subject by the verb, ensuring the intended meaning is clear.