Learn Hardcore Finnish: Portaat olisivat parempi harjoitus, mutta laatikko on liian painava. - The stairs would be better exercise, but the box is too heavy.

olisivat is the third-person plural conditional form of olla. The conditional mood expresses a hypothetical situation (“would be”) and agrees with the plural subject portaat.

Why is parempi used instead of an adverb like paremmin?

parempi is the comparative form of the adjective hyvä, used when comparing nouns. paremmin is the adverbial comparative, used to describe how an action is performed (e.g. “run better”).

Why is harjoitus in the nominative case, not partitive or essive?

With the copula olla, a predicative noun takes the nominative case. Here, both the subject (portaat) and its complement (parempi harjoitus) remain in nominative.

Why does the second clause use the present tense on instead of continuing with the conditional?

The first clause is hypothetical (“stairs would be…”), so it uses conditional. The second clause states a real, present-time fact about the box, so it uses the indicative present on (“is”).

Why is there no article like a or the before portaat or laatikko?

Finnish has no definite or indefinite articles. Nouns stand alone, and context or word order indicates definiteness.

Why is there no explicit kuin (“than”) after parempi?

When the thing you’re comparing to is clear from context or omitted, you can drop kuin and the second term entirely. To spell it out you’d say, for example, parempi harjoitus kuin lenkkeily.

What does mutta mean, and how is it used here?

mutta means “but.” It connects two contrasting clauses: the suggestion about stairs versus the fact that the box is too heavy.

Why is liian placed before painava, and what does it do?

liian is an adverb meaning “too.” Adverbs modifying adjectives typically precede the adjective, so liian painava = “too heavy.”

What is the case and number of laatikko, and why?

laatikko is singular nominative. It’s the subject of the second clause and follows the normal rule that subjects in affirmative sentences take the nominative.

Is there a difference between painava and raskas when saying something is “heavy”?

Yes. painava refers specifically to weight, while raskas is more general (“heavy” in any sense, even metaphorical). Here the focus is on the box’s physical weight, so painava is the most natural choice.