Breakdown of Matka junalla on nopea ja mukava.
olla
to be
ja
and
mukava
comfortable
-lla
by
juna
the train
nopea
fast
matka
the trip
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Questions & Answers about Matka junalla on nopea ja mukava.
Why is there no article like the in this sentence?
Finnish has no definite or indefinite articles. Instead of using words like a or the, Finnish relies on context and case endings (here matka in the nominative) to convey whether something is general or specific.
What case is junalla, and why is it used here?
junalla is the adessive case, marked by -lla/-llä. One of its main uses is to express means or instrument (“by train”). So matka junalla literally means “journey by train.”
What’s the difference between junalla and junassa?
junassa (inessive case, -ssa/-ssä) means “inside the train.”
junalla (adessive case, -lla/-llä) means either “on the train” or “by train” (i.e. the means of transport). Here it tells us how the trip takes place.
What form of the verb is on, and why is it used?
on is the 3rd person singular present tense of olla (“to be”). Finnish uses on to link its subject (“journey by train”) to its description (“fast and comfortable”).
Why are the adjectives nopea and mukava in this form?
They are in the nominative singular to agree with the subject matka (which is also nominative singular). In Finnish, adjectives take the same case and number as the noun they describe.
Could you leave out on and say Matka junalla nopea ja mukava?
No—Finnish needs a form of olla (here on) to make a complete clause of the pattern Subject + Verb + Predicate. Without it, you just have a list of words, not a full sentence.
Does word order matter in Matka junalla on nopea ja mukava?
Finnish word order is quite flexible. The neutral pattern is:
• Subject (Matka junalla)
• Verb (on)
• Predicate (nopea ja mukava)
You can front the adessive phrase for emphasis (“Junalla matka on nopea ja mukava”) or shift elements to highlight different parts, but the basic meaning stays the same.
Could you say Junamatka on nopea ja mukava instead?
Yes. Junamatka is a compound noun meaning “train trip.” It’s equivalent in meaning to matka junalla, though using the compound puts the focus more on the trip itself rather than the means of transport.