Minä teen ruokaa erikseen.

I make food separately.

Breakdown of Minä teen ruokaa erikseen.

• minä: I
• ruoka: the food
• tehdä: to make
• erikseen: separately

Questions & Answers about Minä teen ruokaa erikseen.

Why is the subject pronoun minä included even though the verb teen already indicates the subject?

In Finnish, subject pronouns are technically optional because the verb form already shows who is performing the action. However, learners often include minä for clarity or emphasis, especially when they are starting out or want to stress the subject explicitly.

What does the verb teen mean and what is its role in the sentence?

Teen is the first-person singular present form of the verb tehdä, which means “to do” or “to make.” In this sentence, it directly translates as “I make,” indicating the action performed by the subject.

Why is ruokaa in the partitive case instead of the nominative, and what does that imply?

In Finnish, using the partitive case for an object can signal that the action is incomplete, ongoing, or that the object is an indefinite or partial quantity. Here, ruokaa (the partitive form of ruoka, “food”) suggests that the food being made is not seen as a complete, bounded entity—it conveys an idea of an unspecified amount or a process that isn’t finished.

What is the meaning of erikseen in this sentence?

Erikseen translates as “separately” or “apart.” It indicates that the food is being made in isolation—perhaps prepared separately from other dishes or tasks—adding nuance to the action.

Is it acceptable to omit minä in casual Finnish, and does it affect the overall meaning?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable and common in Finnish to drop the subject pronoun because the conjugated verb already tells you who is acting. Saying “Teen ruokaa erikseen” conveys the same meaning as “Minä teen ruokaa erikseen” and sounds more natural in everyday conversation.

Can the position of erikseen be altered within the sentence, and what impact might that have?

Finnish word order is flexible. Although erikseen is typically placed at the end to clearly indicate that the food is made separately, moving it around (for example, placing it right after minä) may slightly shift the emphasis. However, regardless of its position, the overall meaning remains similar as long as the adverb’s intent is understood.