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Questions & Answers about Syksy on kaunis.
What does each word in Syksy on kaunis. mean?
• Syksy means autumn.
• on is the present tense form of the copula olla, meaning is.
• kaunis means beautiful.
Thus, the sentence directly translates to Autumn is beautiful.
What role does the copula on play in this sentence?
The copula on functions as a linking verb. It connects the subject (syksy) to the predicate adjective (kaunis), much like the word is does in English. This structure indicates that the subject possesses the quality described by the adjective.
Why is the adjective kaunis placed after the copula rather than before the noun?
In Finnish, when an adjective is used predicatively—that is, to describe the subject through a linking verb—it typically follows the copula. This subject-copula-adjective order is standard in Finnish for descriptive sentences, emphasizing the quality of the subject rather than modifying the noun directly.
Does the adjective kaunis agree with the noun syksy in any specific way?
No extra agreement in terms of case or form is required here. In predicative constructions, adjectives in Finnish remain in their basic form and do not change to match the noun. The sentence remains clear without any inflection on kaunis.
Is the structure of Syksy on kaunis. similar to English, and can it be used as a model for other descriptive sentences?
Yes, the structure is analogous to English sentences like Autumn is beautiful. Both follow a subject linking verb (copula) structure with a predicate adjective. This model can be applied to many other descriptive sentences in Finnish, making it a useful pattern for learners.