Alalauseita

Alalauseita, or subordinate clauses, are dependent clauses in Finnish grammar. They cannot stand alone as complete sentences and must be connected to a main clause. They provide content, circumstance, or description that supplements the main clause. Finnish uses conjunctions and relative pronouns to introduce these clauses, and punctuation such as a comma often separates the subordinate clause from the main clause.

Substantive (noun) clauses function as a noun within the larger sentence. They can act as the subject, object, or predicative. Example: Uskon, että hän tulee. Translation: I believe that he will come. Another common use is as a subject or object complement in a larger statement.

Adverbial clauses modify the verb or the whole sentence with information about time, condition, reason, or purpose. Examples:

- Time: Kun hän saapuu, aloitamme kokouksen. Translation: When he arrives, we will start the meeting.

- Condition: Jos sataa, otamme sateenvarjot. Translation: If it rains, we will take umbrellas.

- Reason: Koska olen väsynyt, menen nukkumaan. Translation: Because I am tired, I am going to sleep.

- Purpose: Olin täällä, jotta voisin auttaa sinua. Translation: I was here so that I could help you.

Relative clauses modify a noun and are introduced by words like joka (that/which/who) or jonka (whose). Examples:

- Talo, joka on vanha, on sijaitsee kaupungin laidalla. Translation: The house, which is old, is on the edge of the city.

- Hän, jonka auto on punainen, on ystäväni. Translation: He, whose car is red, is my friend.

- Kauppa, josta ostin leivät, suljetaan kello kahdeksan. Translation: The shop from which I bought bread closes at eight.

Finnish alalauseita cover a range of functions and are central to constructing complex sentences in both written and spoken language.