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Questions & Answers about Nopeus on liian korkea.
Why is there no article “the” before Nopeus?
Finnish has no definite or indefinite articles. Nouns appear without a separate word for “the” or “a.” Nopeus on liian korkea simply means “The speed is too high” by context.
What case is Nopeus in and why is it nominative here?
It’s in the nominative case because it’s the subject of the sentence. In Finnish, subjects and predicative adjectives after olla typically take the nominative.
Why is korkea in the nominative singular form?
Finnish adjectives agree in case and number with the noun they describe. Since nopeus is nominative singular, korkea also appears as nominative singular.
What part of speech is liian, and why doesn’t it inflect?
Liian is an adverb meaning “too.” Adverbs in Finnish are invariable—they don’t change for case or number.
Why must liian come before korkea, not after?
Adverbs modify the word that follows them and typically precede it. Placing liian directly before korkea shows it modifies that adjective.
Could I replace korkea with suuri, and what’s the difference?
Yes. Nopeus on liian suuri is grammatically correct. Korkea often conveys “high” in terms of level or altitude, while suuri means “big” or “large” magnitude. Both work for expressing excessive speed.
How do I form the negative of this sentence?
Use the negative auxiliary ei with olla: Nopeus ei ole liian korkea means “The speed is not too high.”
How would I say “The speed is too low” in Finnish?
You could say Nopeus on liian hidas (“The speed is too slow”) or Nopeus on liian pieni (“The speed is too small”), depending on nuance.
Can liian modify a noun directly, as in liian nopeus?
No, liian modifies adjectives or verbs, not nouns by themselves. To express “too much speed,” you’d say liian suuri nopeus or rephrase the idea (e.g., Nopeus on liian suuri).