objektilauseesta

Objektilause is a type of subordinate clause in the Finnish language that functions as a direct object of a main clause. It is introduced by a relative pronoun such as "jonka" or by the conjunction "että" when the clause refers to an action or state. Unlike relative clauses that modify nouns, objektilause conveys the content of what is being said, so it is often translated into English as "that" or "whether". For example, in the sentence "Sanin, että hän tulee" the clause “että hän tulee” is an objektilause functioning as the object of the verb “sanoa”.

The grammatical role of objektilause is illustrated by its position after the main verb and by its agreement with the subject of the subordinate clause. It may involve a finite verb in any tense or aspect, and it often carries a complement that is interpreted as an event or a state. In Finnish syntax the objektilause is treated as a constituent that can be displaced, but it usually remains in situ, directly following the matrix verb.

Historically, objektilause is an innovation in Uralic languages that developed around the 15th to 17th centuries, as scholars sought ways to express complex ideas within a single sentence. Modern Finnish uses objektilause extensively in both spoken and written discourse to concisely embed reported speech, commands, and propositions. Its contrast with infinitival clauses, which use the -na/-nä form, highlights Finnish's rich possibility to embed clauses as nominal objects.