Questions & Answers about Vaikka pelkään joskus, uskallan kysyä.
Does vaikka mean “although” or “even if” here?
With the indicative present (pelkään), vaikka means “although/even though.”
- Although/even though: Vaikka pelkään, …
- Even if (hypothetical): Vaikka pelkäisin, … (conditional)
Why is there a comma after the first clause?
In Finnish, a subordinate clause is separated from the main clause with a comma. Vaikka pelkään joskus is a subordinate clause, so a comma before uskallan kysyä is required.
Where is the subject “I”?
Finnish verbs carry person endings. pelkää-n and uskalla-n both end in -n, which marks 1st person singular, so the subject “I” is built into the verb. You can add Minä for emphasis: Minä pelkään…, minä uskallan…
Why is it pelkään (with k) and not “pelään”?
The dictionary form is pelätä. In the present tense, the strong-grade stem is pelkää-, so:
- 1st sg: pelkää-n → pelkään
- 3rd sg: pelkää Past: pelkäsin, etc. The k is part of the strong stem of this verb type.
Why is it and not “uskallan kysyn”?