Concepto nuevo
No verb “to have”
English says I have a dog. Finnish has no verb “to have” at all. Instead it says, literally, “at me is a dog”: the owner takes the ending -lla / -llä (at, on), and the verb is simply on (is).
| Pronoun | “at …” | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| minä | minulla | Minulla on koira. | I have a dog. |
| sinä | sinulla | Sinulla on kissa. | You have a cat. |
| hän | hänellä | Hänellä on talo. | He / she has a house. |
| me | meillä | Meillä on aikaa. | We have time. |
| te | teillä | Teillä on auto. | You have a car. |
| he | heillä | Heillä on pyörä. | They have a bike. |
Names work the same way: Marcosilla on koira. — Marcos has a dog. Marinalla on pyörä. — Marina has a bike.
On never changes — it's always on, whoever the owner is. Minulla olen is a classic beginner's slip.