Log inSign up

Palvelutiski menee kiinni pian, joten pyydän virkailijalta apua nyt.

Palvelutiski menee kiinni pian, joten pyydän virkailijalta apua nyt.
The service counter closes soon, so I ask the clerk for help now.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Finnish grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Finnish now

Questions & Answers about Palvelutiski menee kiinni pian, joten pyydän virkailijalta apua nyt.

What does menee kiinni mean here, and why is it used instead of a verb like sulkeutuu?

Menee kiinni is a very common everyday expression meaning closes / is closing (literally something like goes shut).
You could also say Palvelutiski sulkeutuu pian (the service desk closes soon) or Palvelutiski suljetaan pian (the service desk will be closed soon, passive).
Menee kiinni sounds natural and spoken.

Why is the verb menee in the present tense if the closing happens in the future (pian)?

Finnish often uses the present tense for near-future events when a time adverb makes the timing clear.
So Palvelutiski menee kiinni pian is naturally understood as The service desk is closing soon / will close soon.

What is palvelutiski exactly, and how is the word built?

Palvelutiski means service counter/desk (for example in a store, post office, airport, etc.). It is a compound:

  • palvelu = service
  • tiski = counter/desk
    Together: palvelutiski.
Why is there a comma before joten?

Because joten introduces a new clause (cause → result). In Finnish, it is standard to separate two full clauses with a comma:
[Clause 1], joten [Clause 2].
Here: closing soon → therefore I ask now.

What does joten mean, and could I use something else?

joten means so / therefore and is used to link a reason to a consequence.
Common alternatives (with slightly different feel) include:

  • niin (että) = so (that), more conversational
  • sen takia = because of that, more explicit
    But joten is a very normal choice here.
Why is pyydän used, and where is minä (I)?

pyydän is the 1st person singular present of pyytää = to ask/request: I ask / I request.
Finnish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person. So (minä) pyydän is typically just pyydän.

Why is it virkailijalta and not virkailija or virkailijalle?

virkailijalta is the ablative case (-lta/-ltä), often used with verbs like pyytää to mean from someone:

  • pyytää joltakulta = to ask/request from someone
    So pyydän virkailijalta apua = I ask the clerk for help (literally from the clerk).
    virkailijalle (to the clerk) is less natural with pyytää in this structure.
Why is apua in the partitive case?

apua is the partitive of apu (help). Finnish typically uses the partitive for:

  • an uncountable thing (help isn’t a single finished “unit”), and/or
  • something you are requesting/receiving without implying it’s complete and bounded
    So pyytää apua is the standard form: to ask for help.
Why is nyt at the end of the sentence? Could it be earlier?

Putting nyt at the end gives it emphasis: …help now (as opposed to later).
It could also be placed earlier, depending on what you want to stress:

  • …joten pyydän nyt virkailijalta apua. (emphasis on doing it now)
  • …joten nyt pyydän virkailijalta apua. (stronger focus: now, at this point)
Is virkailija the best word for clerk/employee here? What about myyjä?

virkailija is a fairly general word for an official/clerk/desk employee (common at service counters, offices, banks, etc.).
In a shop, myyjä (salesperson) can be more natural. If it’s clearly a service desk, virkailija works well.