Learn Hardcore Finnish: Työkaverini suunnitelma on nopein, joten päätös voi olla helppo. - My coworker's plan is the fastest, so the decision may be easy.

The -ni is the first-person singular possessive suffix. It attaches directly to työkaveri (coworker) to mean my coworker. In Finnish, you generally don’t need a separate word for my when you use these possessive endings.

Why is suunnitelma not in the genitive case to show possession (as in my coworker’s plan)?

In Finnish, possession is marked on the possessor noun by a possessive suffix (here työkaveri → työkaverini), and the possessed noun stays in its basic case. Since työkaverini suunnitelma is the subject of the sentence, suunnitelma remains in the nominative.

How do we form the superlative nopein from the adjective nopea?

To make the superlative (fastest), drop the final a from the positive form nopea and add -in: nopea → nopein. If you wanted to say faster, you’d use the comparative ending -mpi (→ nopeampi) plus kuin (than).

What does joten mean, and when should I use it?

joten is a coordinating conjunction meaning so or therefore. It links two main clauses in a cause-result relationship. Here it connects the clause työkaverini suunnitelma on nopein with päätös voi olla helppo.

Why is there a comma before joten?

Finnish uses a comma before joten when it connects two independent clauses. It works like the comma before so or therefore in English.

What is the role of voi in voi olla helppo?

voi is the third-person singular form of the modal verb voida (can/may). It’s followed by the infinitive olla (to be). So voi olla helppo literally means can be easy or may be easy.

Why isn’t päätös simply described by on helppo instead of voi olla helppo?

on helppo means is easy (a definite statement). voi olla helppo adds a nuance of possibility or uncertainty, suggesting the decision could be easy rather than stating it definitely is.

Why doesn’t this sentence use any articles like a or the?

Finnish has no articles. Context and word order show whether something is definite or indefinite. In päätös voi olla helppo, päätös can be read as a decision or the decision depending on context; no separate article is needed.

Why is there no pronoun like se (it) before voi?

Finnish verbs are conjugated for person and number, so the subject pronoun is often omitted when the meaning is clear. Here voi signals third-person singular, so you don’t need se (it).