Ainoa ehto oli, että työ valmistuu ajoissa.

The only condition was that the work is finished on time.

Breakdown of Ainoa ehto oli, että työ valmistuu ajoissa.

• olla: to be
• työ: the work
• että: that
• ajoissa: on time
• ainoa: only
• ehto: the condition
• valmistua: to be finished

Questions & Answers about Ainoa ehto oli, että työ valmistuu ajoissa.

What does ainoa mean and why does it end with -a?

ainoa means “only”. In Finnish, adjectives agree in case, number, and the “type” of noun they modify. Here ehto is a singular nominative noun, so ainoa also takes the nominative singular ending -a.
Example in plural: ainoat ehdot (“the only conditions”).

Why is the verb in the main clause oli (past tense) instead of on (present)?

Using oli places the statement in the past – “The only condition was…”. If you use on, you speak about the present:
• Ainoa ehto on, että työ valmistuu ajoissa.
“The only condition (now) is that the work will finish on time.”

Why is there a comma before että?

In Finnish, subordinate clauses introduced by että (“that”) are separated from the main clause by a comma. The comma marks the boundary between the independent clause (ainoa ehto oli) and the dependent clause (että työ valmistuu ajoissa).

Why do we use että and not jos?

• että introduces a content clause (a “that”-clause), reporting what the condition consisted of.
• jos means “if” and introduces a conditional clause, as in:
  Jos työ valmistuu ajoissa, palkkio maksetaan.
  (“If the work finishes on time, the bonus will be paid.”)
  Here, after ehto oli, we report the content of that condition, so we need että.

Why is työ in the nominative case?

Because työ (“work”) is the subject of the subordinate clause. Finnish subjects normally appear in the nominative case, and valmistua is an intransitive verb that takes a nominative subject.

Why is the verb in the subordinate clause valmistuu in the present tense?

Finnish does not automatically backshift tenses in subordinate clauses. Even though the main clause is in the past (oli), you use the present tense in the subordinate clause to refer to a future event relative to that past. So työ valmistuu ajoissa means “the work will be finished on time”.

What does valmistua mean, and how is it different from tehdä valmiiksi?

• valmistua is an intransitive verb meaning “to be completed” or “to get ready”. The thing finishes itself (figuratively).
• tehdä valmiiksi is transitive: “to finish (something)”. You actively make it ready.
  Example:
  Työ valmistuu → The work gets completed.
  Teen työn valmiiksi → I finish the work.

What is ajoissa, and could we use other expressions?

ajoissa is an adverb meaning “on time” or “in time”. Other options include:
• oikeaan aikaan (“at the right time”)
• ajallaan (“on schedule”)
But ajoissa is the most concise and common way to say “on time.”

Why is the word order työ valmistuu ajoissa? Can it change?

Finnish has flexible word order. The neutral sequence is Subject–Verb–Adverb. You could also say:
• työ ajoissa valmistuu
• ajoissa työ valmistuu
All are correct; moving elements shifts the emphasis but does not break the grammar.

Can we rephrase the subordinate clause using passive or an infinitive?

Yes, though it changes style:
• Ainoa ehto oli, että työ on saatava valmiiksi ajoissa.
Here saatava is a passive-infinitive meaning “must be made (ready).”
The original työ valmistuu is more straightforward and idiomatic when you simply want “the work is finished on time.”