Minulla on tarpeeksi aikaa.

I have enough time.

Breakdown of Minulla on tarpeeksi aikaa.

• minä: I
• aika: the time
• tarpeeksi: enough

Questions & Answers about Minulla on tarpeeksi aikaa.

What is the literal translation of Minulla on tarpeeksi aikaa?

Literally, the sentence translates as "At me is enough time." In natural English, this means "I have enough time." Note that Finnish expresses possession not by using a direct equivalent of "have" but by combining an adessive phrase with the verb "olla" (to be).

Why is the possessor written as "minulla" instead of using a simple pronoun like "I"?

In Finnish, possession is commonly expressed by using the adessive case. "Minulla" literally means "at me," indicating that something belongs to the speaker. This structure differs from English, where we attach a possessive adjective (my) directly to the noun.

Why is the noun "aika" changed to "aikaa" in this sentence?

The word "aikaa" is the partitive form of "aika" (time). Finnish uses the partitive case here because the adjective "tarpeeksi" (enough) expresses an indefinite or non-specific quantity. The partitive case is typically employed in such contexts to indicate that the noun is only partially or indefinitely quantified.

What role does "tarpeeksi" play in the sentence?

"Tarpeeksi" functions as an adjective or adverb meaning "enough." It describes the amount of time, modifying "aikaa" to show that the quantity is sufficient. Its placement helps indicate that the speaker has a satisfactory or sufficient amount of time.

How does the verb "on" work in this sentence given that English uses "have" to show possession?

In Finnish, instead of a direct verb like "have," possession is conveyed through the construction of an adessive phrase paired with the verb "olla" (to be). Here, "on" is the third person singular form of "olla," linking "minulla" (at me) with "aikaa" (time). This structure is a typical way to indicate possession in Finnish.

How would the sentence change if I wanted to express "I do not have enough time"?

To indicate the negative, you include the negation "ei" before the verb. The sentence becomes "Minulla ei ole tarpeeksi aikaa." Here, "ei ole" replaces "on" to convey that the speaker does not have enough time.