Matka junalla on nopea ja mukava.

to be

Breakdown of Matka junalla on nopea ja mukava.

• ja: and
• mukava: comfortable
• -lla: by

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?