Learn Hardcore Finnish: Olen vieläkin koulussa, koska teen projektia. - I am still at school because I am working on a project.

Finnish conjugates verbs for person, so olen already includes the meaning “I am.” Adding minä is optional and is used mainly for emphasis or contrast (e.g., Minä olen, “I am [as opposed to someone else]”).

How can teen mean “am doing”? There’s no -ing form.

Finnish doesn’t have a separate progressive tense. The present tense covers both English simple and progressive:

Teen = “I do” or “I am doing,” decided by context. Here, the context “still at school” makes the progressive reading natural.

Why is it projektia (partitive) and not projekti or projektin?

The object is in the partitive because the action is ongoing/incomplete and the result is not presented as a finished whole. With tehdä (“to do/make”), you typically use:

Teen projektia = I’m working on a project (process, ongoing).
Tein projektin = I made/did a project (completed whole).

Can I say Teen projektin here?

You can, but it shifts the meaning to a bounded, completed result (“I will do/finish a project”). As a reason for still being at school right now, teen projektia (“I’m working on a project”) is the natural choice.

What nuance does vieläkin add compared to vielä, yhä, or edelleen?

vielä = still (neutral).
vieläkin = still even now; the enclitic -kin adds emphasis (“still, after all this time”).
yhä = still (somewhat formal/literary).
edelleen = still/continuing (neutral-formal, often used in announcements/reports). All are acceptable here; vieläkin is a bit more emphatic.

What does koulussa specifically mean? Why the -ssa ending?

Koulussa is the inessive case (-ssa/-ssä), meaning “in/at (inside) the school.” It indicates being within the place or institution. Related forms:

kouluun (illative) = into the school
koulusta (elative) = out of/from the school
koululla (adessive) = at the school (on the premises/at that location)

What’s the difference between koulussa and koululla?

koulussa: inside the school building or “at school” as part of the school day/activities; also used for the institution (“at school” in general).
koululla: at/around the school as a location (on the grounds, in front of it, meeting there). Example: Tavataan koululla (“Let’s meet at the school [as a place]”).

Do I need the comma before koska?

Yes. Finnish uses a comma between a main clause and a subordinate clause introduced by koska (“because”), regardless of order:

Olen …, koska teen …
Koska teen …, olen …

Can I front the reason: Koska teen projektia, olen vieläkin koulussa?

Yes. It’s correct and puts emphasis on the reason. The meaning stays the same; the focus shifts slightly to the koska clause.

How is koska different from sillä or kun?

koska = because (subordinating; can directly answer “Miksi?”).
sillä = for/because (coordinating, more formal/explanatory; not used as a stand-alone answer to “Miksi?”). Example: Olen vieläkin koulussa, sillä teen projektia.
kun = when/as. In colloquial speech, kun/ku often stands in for koska, but in standard writing use koska for “because.”

Does Olen vieläkin koulussa mean physically at the building or “still in school” (enrolled)?

Usually it means physically “at school” right now. For the status of being enrolled/attending, use:

Käyn yhä koulua = I still attend school.
Olen yhä opiskelija = I’m still a student. Context can make olen koulussa mean “in school,” but these are clearer.

Is the word order flexible? Could I say Olen koulussa vieläkin or move things around?

Yes, Finnish word order is flexible for emphasis:

Olen vieläkin koulussa (neutral).
Olen koulussa vieläkin (end-focus on “still”).
Vieläkin olen koulussa (strong emphasis on “still”). All are grammatical; choose based on what you want to stress.

Could I rephrase the reason as työskentelen projektin parissa instead of teen projektia?

Yes:

Työskentelen projektin parissa = “I’m working on a project” (more formal/literal “working with a project”).
Teen projektia is shorter and very common. Other options: Työstän projektia, Olen mukana projektissa (I’m involved in the project).

What case is projektia, and how do I recognize it on new nouns?

It’s partitive singular. Common markers are -a/-ä, -ta/-tä, or -tta/-ttä depending on the noun. Examples:

projekti → projektia
koulu → koulua Use the partitive object for incomplete/ongoing actions, after many quantity words, and in negatives (e.g., En tee projektia).

Could I make the ongoing nature extra explicit with Olen tekemässä projektia?

Yes. Olla tekemässä + partitive means “to be in the middle of doing.” So:

Olen vieläkin koulussa, koska olen tekemässä projektia. This strongly highlights the ongoing activity, but the original sentence already implies it clearly.