Making comparisons in Finnish

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kultamarja
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:26 am

Making comparisons in Finnish

Post by kultamarja » Wed Aug 30, 2017 5:54 pm

Hi, I'd like to ask a question about making comparisons in Finnish. I know I can say things like:

Mikko on minua vanhempi: 'Mikko is older than me' as well as Mikko on vanhempi kuin mina

But supppose you want to say 'Mikko is much older than me'. Can you say it like this?

Mikko on minua paljon vanhempi

Or can you also say: Mikko on paljon minua vanhempi?

I'd be grateful if anyone could help.



Making comparisons in Finnish

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Jukka Aho
Posts: 5237
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:46 am
Location: Espoo, Finland

Re: Making comparisons in Finnish

Post by Jukka Aho » Wed Aug 30, 2017 11:24 pm

kultamarja wrote:But supppose you want to say 'Mikko is much older than me'. Can you say it like this?

Mikko on minua paljon vanhempi

Or can you also say: Mikko on paljon minua vanhempi?
Either will do.

I was trying to think if there’s a difference in emphasis, but if there is, it is subtle enough I can’t put my finger on it.

(Emphasis, in this case, has more to do with how much you emphasize the word paljon than the word order.)
znark

kultamarja
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:26 am

Re: Making comparisons in Finnish

Post by kultamarja » Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:15 pm

Jukka Aho wrote:
kultamarja wrote:But supppose you want to say 'Mikko is much older than me'. Can you say it like this?

Mikko on minua paljon vanhempi

Or can you also say: Mikko on paljon minua vanhempi?
Either will do.

I was trying to think if there’s a difference in emphasis, but if there is, it is subtle enough I can’t put my finger on it.

(Emphasis, in this case, has more to do with how much you emphasize the word paljon than the word order.)

Thanks, that's very helpful.

kultamarja
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:26 am

Re: Making comparisons in Finnish

Post by kultamarja » Thu Sep 07, 2017 5:56 pm

Jukka Aho wrote:
kultamarja wrote:But supppose you want to say 'Mikko is much older than me'. Can you say it like this?

Mikko on minua paljon vanhempi

Or can you also say: Mikko on paljon minua vanhempi?
Either will do.

I was trying to think if there’s a difference in emphasis, but if there is, it is subtle enough I can’t put my finger on it.

(Emphasis, in this case, has more to do with how much you emphasize the word paljon than the word order.)
If you don't mind, could I ask another question. Is it possible to say "Mikko on minua kolme vuotta vanhempi" - Mikko is three years older than me.

And can you also say this the other way round?

Thanks.

Jukka Aho
Posts: 5237
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 1:46 am
Location: Espoo, Finland

Re: Making comparisons in Finnish

Post by Jukka Aho » Fri Sep 08, 2017 2:11 am

kultamarja wrote:Is it possible to say "Mikko on minua kolme vuotta vanhempi" - Mikko is three years older than me.

And can you also say this the other way round?
Yes to both.
znark

kultamarja
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:26 am

Re: Making comparisons in Finnish

Post by kultamarja » Fri Sep 08, 2017 6:09 pm

Jukka Aho wrote: Yes to both.
Great, thanks a lot.


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