Learn Hardcore Finnish: Etsin kenkiä, jotka sopivat uuteen takkiin. - I am looking for shoes that match the new coat.

The verb etsiä (“to look for”) typically takes its object in the partitive when the action is ongoing or the object is indefinite/unspecified. By using kenkiä (partitive plural) you convey “I’m looking for some shoes,” without implying you want all shoes or that you’ve completed the search.

What is the comma before jotka for?

Finnish uses commas to separate main clauses from subordinate ones, including relative clauses. The word jotka (“which/that,” plural) introduces a relative clause, so you place a comma before it.

What does jotka mean, and why is it used instead of joka?

Jotka is the plural nominative form of the relative pronoun meaning “which/that.” It agrees with its antecedent kengät (shoes), which is plural. If the antecedent had been singular, you’d use joka.

Why is the verb sopivat in the plural form?

Finnish verbs agree in number with their subjects. Here, the subject of sopivat is jotka referring back to kengät (plural), so the verb takes the 3rd-person plural ending -vat → sopivat.

What case is uuteen takkiin, and why is it used here?

Uuteen takkiin is the illative case (“into/to the new coat”). The verb sopia (“to suit/match”) requires its complement in the illative to show what something matches. Hence uusi → uuteen, takki → takkiin.

Why do both the adjective uusi and the noun takki inflect in the illative case?

In Finnish, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in case (and number). Since takki is in the illative case, its adjective uusi must also appear in the illative form (uuteen).