Matkalaukku on iso ja raskas.

The suitcase is big and heavy.

Breakdown of Matkalaukku on iso ja raskas.

• olla: to be
• ja: and
• iso: big
• raskas: heavy
• matkalaukku: the suitcase

Questions & Answers about Matkalaukku on iso ja raskas.

Why is there no a or the before matkalaukku?

Finnish has no definite or indefinite articles. You simply say matkalaukku to mean “a suitcase” or “the suitcase,” and the context tells you which one.

What case is matkalaukku in, and why don’t we see an extra ending?

Here matkalaukku is in the nominative singular, which is the basic form of a noun when it’s the subject of a sentence. In Finnish the subject doesn’t need any special ending in nominative singular.

Why is matkalaukku written as one word instead of two?

It’s a compound noun: matka (“trip” or “journey”) + laukku (“bag”). Finnish often combines two or more words into one to form a compound.

How do the adjectives iso and raskas agree with matkalaukku?

Adjectives in Finnish must match the noun’s case and number. Since matkalaukku is nominative singular, both adjectives are also in nominative singular:

• iso = “big”
• raskas = “heavy”

Why do the adjectives come after on instead of before matkalaukku?

This sentence uses the copula on (“is”) to link the subject to its description. The normal word order is: subject + verb (copula) + predicate adjective(s)
If you wanted attributive adjectives before the noun, you’d say iso ja raskas matkalaukku (“a big and heavy suitcase”).

What is on, and does it change with different subjects?

on is the third person singular present tense of olla (“to be”). Finnish verbs conjugate for person and number:

• minä olen (“I am”)
• sinä olet (“you are”)
• hän on (“he/she/it is”)
• me olemme (“we are”)
• te olette (“you (pl.) are”)
• he ovat (“they are”)

Because matkalaukku is equivalent to “it,” you use on.

How do you say “and” in Finnish, as in linking iso and raskas?

The word ja means “and.” In a simple list like this you don’t put a comma before ja.

Can you make this sentence plural, for example “Suitcases are big and heavy”?

Yes. Change the noun, verb and adjectives into nominative plural:

Matkalaukut ovat isot ja raskaat.

• matkalaukut = “suitcases”
• ovat = 3rd person plural of olla (“are”)
• isot, raskaat = plural forms of the adjectives