Learn Hardcore Finnish: Terveys on tärkeä asia, siksi syön paljon terveellistä ruokaa. - Health is an important thing, that’s why I eat a lot of healthy food.

In Finnish, when referring to an indefinite or uncountable quantity—like when saying “a lot of food”—the noun takes the partitive case. In this sentence, ruokaa is the partitive form of ruoka (“food”), so the modifying adjective terveellistä must also be in the partitive. This agreement ensures that both the noun and its adjective correctly express the idea of a non-specific, large amount.

What does the word siksi mean, and how is it used in the sentence?

Siksi translates to “therefore” or “so” in English. It is used to link the cause (health being important) with its effect (the choice to eat a lot of healthy food). The word clearly shows that the second clause is a direct consequence of the first.

Why is there a comma before siksi in this sentence?

The comma separates two independent clauses. In Finnish, as in English, a comma is often used to demarcate a statement from its resulting explanation or consequence. Here, the comma helps to signal the shift from stating that “Health is an important thing” to explaining the reason behind “eating a lot of healthy food.”

How does adjective–noun agreement work in this sentence?

Finnish adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in both number and case. In the first clause, tärkeä modifies asia in the nominative case. In the second clause, terveellistä modifies ruokaa in the partitive case, because the partitive is used when referring to quantities or indefinite amounts. This agreement is essential for clear and grammatically correct expression in Finnish.

What is the role of paljon in “syön paljon terveellistä ruokaa”?

Paljon is an adverb meaning “a lot” or “much.” It modifies the verb syön (I eat) to emphasize the quantity of food consumed. Its usage also supports the choice of using the partitive case for ruokaa since it implies an indefinite, large amount rather than a specific, countable portion.