Breakdown of Väkijoukko taputti, kun laulaja palasi lavalle.
kun
when
palata
to return
lava
the stage
laulaja
the singer
Questions & Answers about Väkijoukko taputti, kun laulaja palasi lavalle.
Why is väkijoukko singular, even though it refers to many people?
Because väkijoukko means a crowd, and in Finnish it is a singular collective noun. It refers to a group made up of many people, but grammatically it behaves like a singular noun.
So:
- väkijoukko taputti = the crowd applauded
- not plural, because the subject is one crowd
If you wanted to focus on the individual people, you could use a plural noun instead, such as ihmiset (the people).
What tense are taputti and palasi?
Both are in the Finnish past tense (often called the imperfect).
- taputtaa → taputti = clapped / applauded
- palata → palasi = returned / came back
In this sentence, both actions are described as past events:
- the crowd applauded
- the singer returned to the stage
The -i- is a common sign of the Finnish past tense, although the exact form can vary depending on the verb type.
Why is it palasi and not something like palauti?