Language/Finnish/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Finnish learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "to be" in Finnish. We will look at the conjugation of the verb and how it is used in different contexts. We will also look at some examples of sentences using the verb "to be".
The verb "to be" in Finnish is "olla". It is an irregular verb, which means that it does not follow the same conjugation pattern as regular verbs. The conjugation of the verb "olla" is as follows:
| Person | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Olen | olen | I am |
| Olet | olet | You are (singular) |
| On | on | He/She/It is |
| Olemme | olemme | We are |
| Olette | olette | You are (plural) |
| Ovat | ovat | They are |
The verb "to be" is used in many different contexts. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be":
- Person 1: Minä olen opiskelija. (I am a student.)
- Person 2: Minä olen opettaja. (I am a teacher.)
- Person 1: Hän on kirjailija. (He/She is a writer.)
- Person 2: Me olemme ystäviä. (We are friends.)
- Person 1: Te olette sukulaisia. (You are relatives.)
- Person 2: He ovat lääkäreitä. (They are doctors.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe people's feelings or emotions. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe feelings or emotions:
- Person 1: Minä olen onnellinen. (I am happy.)
- Person 2: Minä olen surullinen. (I am sad.)
- Person 1: Hän on vihainen. (He/She is angry.)
- Person 2: Me olemme huolissamme. (We are worried.)
- Person 1: Te olette innoissanne. (You are excited.)
- Person 2: He ovat levottomia. (They are restless.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe physical characteristics or qualities. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe physical characteristics or qualities:
- Person 1: Minä olen pitkä. (I am tall.)
- Person 2: Minä olen lyhyt. (I am short.)
- Person 1: Hän on hoikka. (He/She is slim.)
- Person 2: Me olemme lihavia. (We are fat.)
- Person 1: Te olette kauniita. (You are beautiful.)
- Person 2: He ovat rumia. (They are ugly.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe location. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe location:
- Person 1: Minä olen kotona. (I am at home.)
- Person 2: Minä olen kaupungissa. (I am in the city.)
- Person 1: Hän on ulkona. (He/She is outside.)
- Person 2: Me olemme kirjastossa. (We are in the library.)
- Person 1: Te olette koulussa. (You are at school.)
- Person 2: He ovat työpaikalla. (They are at work.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe possession. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe possession:
- Person 1: Minä olen rikas. (I am rich.)
- Person 2: Minä olen köyhä. (I am poor.)
- Person 1: Hän on omistaja. (He/She is the owner.)
- Person 2: Me olemme velkaantuneita. (We are in debt.)
- Person 1: Te olette varakkaita. (You are wealthy.)
- Person 2: He ovat velattomia. (They are debt-free.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe time. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe time:
- Person 1: Minä olen aikaisin. (I am early.)
- Person 2: Minä olen myöhässä. (I am late.)
- Person 1: Hän on ajoissa. (He/She is on time.)
- Person 2: Me olemme liian aikaisin. (We are too early.)
- Person 1: Te olette liian myöhässä. (You are too late.)
- Person 2: He ovat ajallaan. (They are on time.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe age. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe age:
- Person 1: Minä olen nuori. (I am young.)
- Person 2: Minä olen vanha. (I am old.)
- Person 1: Hän on keski-ikäinen. (He/She is middle-aged.)
- Person 2: Me olemme nuoria. (We are young.)
- Person 1: Te olette vanhoja. (You are old.)
- Person 2: He ovat keski-ikäisiä. (They are middle-aged.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe nationality. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe nationality:
- Person 1: Minä olen suomalainen. (I am Finnish.)
- Person 2: Minä olen ruotsalainen. (I am Swedish.)
- Person 1: Hän on saksalainen. (He/She is German.)
- Person 2: Me olemme norjalaisia. (We are Norwegian.)
- Person 1: Te olette venäläisiä. (You are Russian.)
- Person 2: He ovat espanjalaisia. (They are Spanish.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe occupation. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe occupation:
- Person 1: Minä olen opettaja. (I am a teacher.)
- Person 2: Minä olen kirjailija. (I am a writer.)
- Person 1: Hän on lääkäri. (He/She is a doctor.)
- Person 2: Me olemme insinöörejä. (We are engineers.)
- Person 1: Te olette kokkeja. (You are chefs.)
- Person 2: He ovat poliiseja. (They are police officers.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe relationships. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe relationships:
- Person 1: Minä olen poikaystävä. (I am a boyfriend.)
- Person 2: Minä olen tyttöystävä. (I am a girlfriend.)
- Person 1: Hän on aviomies. (He/She is a husband.)
- Person 2: Me olemme sisaruksia. (We are siblings.)
- Person 1: Te olette vaimoja. (You are wives.)
- Person 2: He ovat veljiä. (They are brothers.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe weather. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe weather:
- Person 1: Minä olen aurinkoinen. (I am sunny.)
- Person 2: Minä olen sateinen. (I am rainy.)
- Person 1: Hän on tuulinen. (He/She is windy.)
- Person 2: Me olemme pilvisiä. (We are cloudy.)
- Person 1: Te olette kuivia. (You are dry.)
- Person 2: He ovat lumisia. (They are snowy.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe temperature. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe temperature:
- Person 1: Minä olen kylmä. (I am cold.)
- Person 2: Minä olen lämmin. (I am warm.)
- Person 1: Hän on viileä. (He/She is cool.)
- Person 2: Me olemme kuumia. (We are hot.)
- Person 1: Te olette kylmiä. (You are cold.)
- Person 2: He ovat lämpimiä. (They are warm.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe health. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe health:
- Person 1: Minä olen terve. (I am healthy.)
- Person 2: Minä olen sairas. (I am sick.)
- Person 1: Hän on vahva. (He/She is strong.)
- Person 2: Me olemme heikkoja. (We are weak.)
- Person 1: Te olette terveitä. (You are healthy.)
- Person 2: He ovat sairaita. (They are sick.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe size. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe size:
- Person 1: Minä olen pieni. (I am small.)
- Person 2: Minä olen iso. (I am big.)
- Person 1: Hän on keskikokoinen. (He/She is medium-sized.)
- Person 2: Me olemme pieniä. (We are small.)
- Person 1: Te olette isoja. (You are big.)
- Person 2: He ovat keskikokoisia. (They are medium-sized.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe color. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe color:
- Person 1: Minä olen punainen. (I am red.)
- Person 2: Minä olen sininen. (I am blue.)
- Person 1: Hän on vihreä. (He/She is green.)
- Person 2: Me olemme keltaisia. (We are yellow.)
- Person 1: Te olette oransseja. (You are orange.)
- Person 2: He ovat valkoisia. (They are white.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe taste. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "to be" to describe taste:
- Person 1: Minä olen makea. (I am sweet.)
- Person 2: Minä olen hapan. (I am sour.)
- Person 1: Hän on suolainen. (He/She is salty.)
- Person 2: Me olemme mausteisia. (We are spicy.)
- Person 1: Te olette karvaisia. (You are bitter.)
- Person 2: He ovat mietoja. (They are mild.)
The verb "to be" can also be used to describe sound. Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "