lasta

In a sentence

• Näin äitiä ja lasta puistossa.

  I saw a mother and a child in the park.

  In this sentence, 'lasta' is the partitive singular form of the noun 'lapsi' (child), used because the verb 'näin' (saw) requires the object to be in the partitive case when referring to a part of something or when the action is not fully completed.

• Hän antoi lasta kädessään karkkia.

  He/she gave a child in his/her hand candy.

  Here, 'lasta' is again in the partitive case, showing that the action of giving candy is directed toward an undefined amount related to 'lapsi' (a child).

• Keittiön lasta oli kaapissa.

  The kitchen spatula was in the cabinet.

  In this example, 'lasta' refers to 'spatula,' which is its nominative form here used as the subject of the sentence, indicating a different word entirely that happens to share the form.

• Pidän lasta sylissäni.

  I am holding the child in my arms.

  "Lasta" here is the partitive singular form of "lapsi" (child), used to express an ongoing or incomplete action towards the child.

• Puku oli koristeltu kultaisilla lasta muistuttavilla ornamenteilla.

  The dress was adorned with golden ornaments resembling shavings.

  "Lasta" in this sentence refers to wood or material shavings, a different sense of the word based on context.

• Puristin lastaa tiukasti käsissäni.

  I tightly held the spatula in my hands.

  "Lastaa" here is the singular object form of "lasta" (spatula), referring to the tool.