Learn Hardcore Finnish: Myyjä tarjosi minulle ylimääräisen alennuksen. - The salesperson offered me an extra discount.

tarjosi is the 3rd person singular past tense of tarjota (“to offer”). Its basic conjugation in the past tense is: • minä tarjosin
• sinä tarjosit
• hän tarjosi
• me tarjosimme
• te tarjositte
• he tarjosivat
So tarjosi means “(he/she) offered.”

Why is minulle used instead of minä?

minulle is the allative case of minä (formed with the suffix –lle), and it marks the indirect object (“to me”). In English you say “to me,” so Finnish uses minulle instead of the nominative minä.

What case is ylimääräisen alennuksen, and why does it end in -n?

It’s the singular accusative (definite object) form. In Finnish a definite singular object takes the same ending (-n) as the genitive: • Nominative: ylimääräinen alennus
• Accusative/Genitive: ylimääräisen alennuksen
Both the adjective and the noun add -n to show that it’s a specific discount you received.

Is alennuksen genitive or accusative?

The form alennuksen doubles as genitive singular (possession) and accusative singular (definite direct object). In this sentence it’s accusative because it’s the object of tarjosi (“offered a discount”).

How do adjectives agree with nouns here?

Adjectives in Finnish must match the noun in case, number, and definiteness. Since alennuksen is singular, definite, accusative, the adjective ylimääräinen also takes the accusative/genitive ending -n, giving ylimääräisen.

Can I change the word order?

Yes. Finnish has flexible word order. For example: • Minulle myyjä tarjosi ylimääräisen alennuksen. (emphasizes “to me”)
• Ylimääräisen alennuksen myyjä tarjosi minulle. (emphasizes “the extra discount”)
The core meaning stays the same; only the focus shifts.

What’s the difference between tarjosi and antoi in this context?

tarjosi (“offered”) suggests the seller proposed giving an extra discount. antoi (past of antaa, “to give”) would imply they actually handed it over. Saying myyjä antoi minulle ylimääräisen alennuksen focuses more on the act of giving rather than the offer.

Why is it ylimääräinen and not something like ylämääräinen?

ylimääräinen comes from the prefix yli- (“over, beyond”) + määrä (“amount”) + the adjective ending -inen, literally “beyond-amount-ish,” meaning “extra” or “additional.” Finnish compounding and vowel harmony produce ylimääräinen rather than ylämääräinen.