Sivulauseyhteys

Sivulauseyhteys refers to the grammatical relationship between a main clause and a subordinate clause in Finnish. A subordinate clause, often called a sivulause, depends on the main clause for its full meaning. This dependency is established through specific conjunctions or relative pronouns that introduce the subordinate clause and signal its function within the sentence. These conjunctions can indicate various logical relationships, such as cause, purpose, condition, or time.

Finnish subordinate clauses can be formed in several ways. One common method is using conjunctions like että (that), jotta (so that), jos (if), kun (when), koska (because), and vaikka (although). These conjunctions connect the subordinate clause to the main clause and determine its role in conveying information. For example, in the sentence "Hän sanoi, että hän tulee myöhään" (He said that he will be late), "että hän tulee myöhään" is a subordinate clause introduced by "että", functioning as the object of the verb "sanoi".

Another way to form subordinate clauses is through relative clauses, introduced by relative pronouns such as joka (who, which) or mikä (which). These clauses modify a noun in the main clause, providing additional information about it. For instance, "Kirja, jonka luin, oli mielenkiintoinen" (The book, which I read, was interesting) features a relative clause "jonka luin" that describes the noun "kirja". Understanding sivulauseyhteys is crucial for comprehending the structure and meaning of complex Finnish sentences.