Välittäjä sanoi, että asuntoesittelyyn kannattaa tulla ajoissa, jotta ehditte kysyä rauhassa.

The realtor said that it’s worth coming to the viewing on time so that you (polite/plural) have time to ask calmly.

Breakdown of Välittäjä sanoi, että asuntoesittelyyn kannattaa tulla ajoissa, jotta ehditte kysyä rauhassa.

• kysyä: to ask
• tulla: to come
• ehtiä: to have time; to manage (to do something in time)
• jotta: so that
• te: you (plural/polite)
• että: that
• ajoissa: on time
• sanoa: to say
• rauhassa: calmly
• välittäjä: the realtor
• -yn: to
• asuntoesittely: the apartment viewing
• kannattaa: to be worth (doing)

Questions & Answers about Välittäjä sanoi, että asuntoesittelyyn kannattaa tulla ajoissa, jotta ehditte kysyä rauhassa.

What does välittäjä mean, and is it the same as a real estate agent?

Välittäjä literally means an intermediary/broker. In housing contexts it commonly refers to a real estate agent (someone who brokers the sale/rental). In everyday English, välittäjä here is basically the (real estate) agent.

Why is there a comma before että?

Finnish typically uses a comma before a subordinate clause introduced by että (that-clause).
So Välittäjä sanoi, että … = The agent said that … and the comma marks where the main clause ends and the subordinate clause begins.

How does että work in this sentence?

että introduces reported speech/content (a complement clause).
Structure:

• Välittäjä sanoi = The agent said
• että [X] = that [X]

Everything after että is what the agent said.

What does asuntoesittelyyn mean grammatically? Why the -yn ending?

asuntoesittelyyn is asuntoesittely + -yn, where -yn is the illative case ending meaning into/to (an event/place).

• asunto = apartment
• esittely = presentation/showing/viewing
• asuntoesittelyyn = to the apartment viewing

The illative often answers “where to?” (minne?). Here it’s “come (to) the viewing.”

Why use kannattaa (3rd person singular) when talking about “you should”?

kannattaa is commonly used in an impersonal way in Finnish:
kannattaa + infinitive = it’s worth (doing) / you should (do)

Even if the advice is aimed at “you,” the verb often stays in 3rd person singular:

• kannattaa tulla ajoissa = it’s a good idea to come early / you should come early

You can add a person if needed (less neutral), but the neutral advice style is impersonal.

Why is it kannattaa tulla (infinitive) instead of a form like “tulkaa” (imperative)?

Because the speaker is reporting advice rather than giving a direct command.

• kannattaa tulla ajoissa = advice/recommendation (it’s a good idea to come on time/early)
• tulkaa ajoissa! = direct command (come on time!)

Since it’s inside reported speech (sanoi, että…), the recommendation form fits well.

What’s the difference between ajoissa and aikaisin?

Both relate to being early, but the nuance differs:

• ajoissa = in time / on time / early enough (emphasizes not being late)
• aikaisin = early (emphasizes being earlier than usual)

In this context, ajoissa suggests arriving with enough time before things start.

Why is jotta used instead of että the second time?

Because jotta introduces a purpose/goal clause: so that / in order that.

• että = “that” (content of what someone said)
• jotta = “so that” (the reason/purpose for coming early)

So: come early so that you have time to ask questions.

Why is it ehditte (2nd person plural), and who is “you” here?

ehditte is the 2nd person plural form of ehtiä (to have time / manage to do something in time). It can refer to:

• a group (“you all”), or
• polite “you” in some contexts (Finnish can use plural to sound more polite, though it’s not as fixed as in many languages).

Here it likely means the viewer(s): the person being spoken to, possibly as a couple/family or a general “you (people coming).”

How does ehtiä work with another verb: why ehditte kysyä?

ehtiä is commonly followed by the first infinitive (dictionary form) to express having time to do something:

• ehtiä tehdä = to have time to do So:
• jotta ehditte kysyä = so that you have time to ask

What does rauhassa mean, and why is it in that form?

rauhassa is the inessive form of rauha (peace/calm), used adverbially to mean:

• peacefully, calmly, without rush

So kysyä rauhassa = ask (questions) calmly / at your leisure.

Is the word order flexible here, and what is the “core” structure?

The core structure is:

• [Agent] sanoi, että [recommendation], jotta [purpose].

More explicitly:

• Välittäjä sanoi, että
  asuntoesittelyyn kannattaa tulla ajoissa,
  jotta ehditte kysyä rauhassa.

Finnish word order is somewhat flexible, but this order is very natural: it presents the advice first (come early) and then the purpose (so you have time to ask).