Learn Hardcore Finnish: Asia on tärkeämpi. - The matter is more important.

asia is a common noun meaning thing/issue/matter. Here it functions as the subject of the sentence, and with the copula on (“is”) Finnish keeps the subject in the nominative singular, so no extra case ending appears.

What is on here?

on is the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb olla (to be). It serves as the copula “is,” linking the subject asia to the predicate tärkeämpi.

What does tärkeämpi mean, and how is it formed?

tärkeämpi is the comparative form of tärkeä (important), so it means more important. You form the comparative by taking the adjective stem (tärkeä) and adding the suffix -mpi, yielding tärkeä + mpi → tärkeämpi.

How do you say “more … than …” in Finnish?

You use the comparative adjective followed by kuin (“than”). The word after kuin usually stays in the nominative.
Example:
Asia on tärkeämpi kuin raha.
(“The thing is more important than money.”)

How do you form “the most important” (the superlative)?

You add the superlative suffix -in to the adjective stem.
tärkeä → tärkein (“most important”)
Example:
Asia on tärkein.
(“The thing is the most important.”)

How is tärkeämpi pronounced?

Finnish pronunciation is very regular:
• Stress on the first syllable: TÄR-ke-ämp-pi
• Each vowel is pronounced fully (ä = like ‘a’ in “cat,” e = like ‘e’ in “bet”).
• The double m is held slightly longer than a single m.

Why doesn’t Finnish use “a” or “the” like English does?

Finnish doesn’t have separate articles. Definiteness or indefiniteness is inferred from context. So asia on tärkeämpi can translate as either “a thing is more important” or “the thing is more important,” depending on what you already know.

How do you make tärkeämpi plural?

The nominative plural ends in -t, and you also see consonant assimilation. The plural of tärkeämpi is tärkeämmät.
Example:
Nämä asiat ovat tärkeämmät.
(“These things are more important.””)