Learn Hardcore Finnish: Maailma on suuri, mutta joskus liian meluisa. - The world is big, but sometimes too noisy.

The word on is the third person singular form of olla (to be) and serves as a linking verb. It connects the subject maailma to its descriptive predicates, which in this sentence are suuri and liian meluisa.

How is the adjective meluisa formed, and what does it mean?

The adjective meluisa is derived from the noun melu (noise) by adding the suffix -isa, which is common in Finnish to form adjectives that describe having a particular quality. Thus, meluisa means “noisy” or “characterized by noise.”

What function does the adverb joskus serve in this sentence?

Joskus translates to “sometimes.” It modifies the second clause by indicating that the excessive noisiness described by liian meluisa occurs occasionally rather than all the time.

Why is the conjunction mutta used here, and what does it express?

The conjunction mutta means “but” and is used to contrast two different aspects of the description. In the sentence, it separates the positive statement that the world is big (maailma on suuri) from the contrasting observation that it is sometimes overly noisy (joskus liian meluisa).

How does the adverb liian affect the meaning of meluisa?

The adverb liian means “too.” When it modifies meluisa, it intensifies the adjective by indicating that the noise is not merely present—it is excessive. This tells us that in some instances, the world is more than just noisy; it is excessively noisy.

In terms of sentence structure, how do the adjectives agree with the noun in Finnish compared to English?

In Finnish, adjectives agree with the noun they describe in both number and case. Here, both suuri and meluisa are in the nominative singular to match maailma, which is also in the nominative singular. Unlike English, Finnish adjectives are not marked for gender, so the agreement focuses solely on number and case.

Is the comma before mutta used in a similar way as in English?

Yes, the comma before mutta is used to separate two distinct parts of a sentence—in this case, two independent clauses that contrast with each other. This punctuation practice is quite similar to how commas are used in English when linking contrasting ideas with conjunctions like “but.”