Understanding the nuances of a foreign language can be quite challenging but also rewarding. In Finnish, verbs and their derivatives can have subtle differences that significantly change the meaning of a sentence. Two such verbs are naurattaa and nauraa, which can be confusing to learners due to their related nature but different usages. This article will explore the distinctions between these two verbs to help you use them correctly in conversation.
Differences in Meaning
The verb nauraa translates to “to laugh” in English and is used to express the action of laughing. On the other hand, naurattaa means “to make laugh” or “to feel like laughing.” It is used when something causes the laughter or when someone feels the urge to laugh due to something funny. Thus, while nauraa focuses on the action itself, naurattaa emphasizes the cause or the feeling that leads to the action.
Usage of Nauraa
Nauraa is a straightforward verb in Finnish and is used similarly to the English verb “to laugh.” It’s typically used to describe the act of laughing by a subject. Here’s an example:
Minä nauran.
This translates to “I laugh.”
Another example can demonstrate the verb used in a different tense:
Hän nauroi koko illan.
This means “He/she laughed the whole evening.”
Usage of Naurattaa
Naurattaa, being a causative verb, is used to indicate that something makes someone laugh or that someone feels like laughing. It often requires an object that triggers the laughter. Here’s how you might use it:
Minua naurattaa tämä kirja.
This sentence translates to “This book makes me laugh” or “This book is making me laugh.”
Another example highlights the feeling of wanting to laugh:
Minua naurattaa ajatella sitä.
This means “Thinking about it makes me feel like laughing.”
Grammatical Construction
Grammatically, nauraa follows the patterns typical for Finnish verbs. It can be conjugated in various tenses and persons. For instance:
Me nauroimme viime yönä.
This translates to “We laughed last night.”
On the contrary, naurattaa often requires an object in the partitive case when referring to the person who feels the urge to laugh, as seen in the examples above. The subject causing the laughter is in the nominative case.
Common Mistakes
One common mistake learners make is using naurattaa when they should use nauraa, and vice versa. Remember, if you are directly describing the action of laughing, use nauraa. If you are describing something causing laughter or the feeling of wanting to laugh, use naurattaa.
Practice Sentences
Here are some sentences to practice distinguishing between naurattaa and nauraa:
1. Tuo elokuva sai meidät nauramaan.
– That movie made us laugh.
2. Minua naurattaa, kun muistan sen hetken.
– I feel like laughing when I remember that moment.
3. He nauroivat ääneen.
– They laughed out loud.
By understanding the distinction between naurattaa and nauraa, you can more accurately express emotions and actions related to laughter in Finnish. As with learning any language, practice and real-life usage are key to mastering these nuances. So, keep practicing, and soon these differences will become second nature!
