Language/Finnish/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Finnish learners! đ
In this lesson, we will learn the basics of using "be" in Finnish language. Understanding how to use "be" is very important because it helps us describe things, places, people, and situations. We'll discuss the present tense, past tense, and future tense. We will also cover how to form questions using "be."
Present Tense[edit | edit source]
In Finnish, the verb "olla" means "to be," and is used as follows:
Finnish | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
olen | [Ëolen] | I am |
olet | [ËoleÌtÌȘ] | you are (singular informal) |
on | [oÌn] | he/she/it is |
olemme | [ËoleÌmËeÌ] | we are |
olette | [oÌËletÌȘtÌȘeÌ] | you are (plural/formal) |
ovat | [ËovÉtÌȘ] | they are |
For example:
- MinÀ olen suomalainen. (I am Finnish.)
- SinÀ olet korkea. (You are tall.)
- HĂ€n on onnellinen. (He/she/it is happy.)
- Me olemme ystÀviÀ. (We are friends.)
- Te olette kiireisiÀ. (You all are busy.)
- He ovat nÀlkÀisiÀ. (They are hungry.)
Past Tense[edit | edit source]
To form the past tense, we use the verb "olla" in the third person singular form "oli" and add the suffix "-nut/-nyt" to the end of the main verb. For example:
- MinÀ olin kotona eilen. (I was at home yesterday.)
- SinÀ olit jalkapallokentÀllÀ eilen. (You were at the soccer field yesterday.)
- HÀn oli kipeÀ viime viikolla. (He/she/it was sick last week.)
- Me olimme lomalla viime kuussa. (We were on vacation last month.)
- Te olitte töissÀ eilen. (You all were at work yesterday.)
- He olivat koulussa aamulla. (They were at school in the morning.)
Let's see some examples in context:
- Person 1: MissÀ olit eilen? (Where were you yesterday?)
- Person 2: Olin kirjastossa. (I was at the library.)
- Person 1: MitÀ sinÀ teit viikonloppuna? (What did you do last weekend?)
- Person 2: Olimme mökillÀ. (We were at the summer cottage.)
Future Tense[edit | edit source]
To form the future tense, we use the verb "olla" in the third person singular form "on" in combination with the infinitive form of the main verb. For example:
- MinÀ olen menossa kaupungille. (I am going to the city.)
- SinÀ olet aloittamassa uutta työtÀ. (You are starting a new job.)
- HĂ€n on matkustamassa Ranskaan huomenna. (He/she/it is going to travel to France tomorrow.)
- Me olemme suunnittelemassa lomaa. (We are planning a vacation.)
- Te olette odottamassa bussia. (You all are waiting for the bus.)
- He ovat lÀhtemÀssÀ kÀvelylle. (They are about to go for a walk.)
Now, let's put some examples in a dialogue:
- Person 1: MitÀ sinÀ teet tÀnÀ viikonloppuna? (What are you doing this weekend?)
- Person 2: Menen kaverin syntymÀpÀiville. (I'm going to my friend's birthday party.)
- Person 1: Oletteko menossa lomalle tÀnÀ vuonna? (Are you going on vacation this year?)
- Person 2: KyllÀ, suunnittelemme matkaa Kreikkaan. (Yes, we're planning a trip to Greece.)
Asking Questions[edit | edit source]
To form questions using "be," we simply switch the order of the subject and the verb "olla." For example:
- Oletko sinÀ nÀlkÀinen? (Are you hungry?)
- Onko hÀn suomalainen? (Is he/she/it Finnish?)
- Olemmeko me myöhÀssÀ? (Are we late?)
To ask about the past, we use the helping verb "ollut" and switch its position with the subject. For example:
- Oliko sinulla hauskaa? (Did you have fun?)
- Oliko hÀn kotona? (Was he/she/it at home?)
- Olivatko he ystÀviÀ? (Were they friends?)
To ask about the future, we use the same structure as in the present tense:
- Oletko menossa festareille? (Are you going to the festival?)
- Onko hÀn matkustamassa ulkomaille? (Is he/she/it going to travel abroad?)
- Ovatko he lÀhtemÀssÀ piknikille? (Are they about to go for a picnic?)
Remember, practice makes perfect! To improve your Finnish Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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