Vastailla

Vastailla is a Finnish verb that translates to "to answer" or "to reply" in English. It is the frequentative form of the verb "vastata," which also means "to answer." The frequentative aspect implies that the action of answering is done repeatedly, habitually, or in response to multiple prompts. For example, one might vastailla many emails or vastailla a series of questions.

The verb vastailla conjugates according to standard Finnish verb conjugation patterns. It is typically used in contexts where someone is engaging in a continuous or prolonged act of responding. Unlike "vastata," which can refer to a single instance of answering, "vastailla" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the interaction. The object of the verb is usually in the partitive case when referring to multiple items being answered, such as "vastailla kirjeisiin" (to answer letters) or "vastailla kysymyksiin" (to answer questions).

The nuance between "vastata" and "vastailla" is significant in Finnish. While "vastata" might be used for a single, direct answer, "vastailla" suggests a more involved process of communication, perhaps over a period of time or in response to a collection of stimuli. Understanding this distinction is key to using the verb accurately in Finnish.