Understanding Passive Voice in Finnish for English Speakers
What is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a construction where the action's recipient becomes the subject of the sentence. In English, it is often used to emphasize the action rather than the performer.
Why Use Passive Voice in Finnish?
In Finnish, the passive voice is widely utilized for nuances in expressing actions without specifying the actor. It allows focusing on the action's impact.
Forming the Passive in Finnish
Finnish forms its passive forms differently than English. Instead of auxiliary verbs like 'is' or 'was,' Finnish uses specific verb endings to indicate passive voice.
Present Passive
To form the present passive, Finnish verbs typically take the suffix -taan or -tään. For example, 'pesemään' (to wash) becomes 'pestään' (is washed).
Past Passive
The past passive form uses the suffix -ttiin. For instance, 'kirjoittamaan' (to write) in passive becomes 'kirjoitettiin' (was written).
Examples of Passive Sentences in Finnish
Kirjaa luetaan.
The book is read.
Auto pestiin.
The car was washed.
Using Passive Voice in Everyday Finnish
Passive voice is frequent in instructions, news, and situations where the action is more significant than the actor. For language learners, mastering it can significantly enhance comprehension and communication.
Further Reading
- Finnish Grammar: Passive Voice
In-depth guide on Finnish passive voice usage.
- The Finnish Language
Explore the uniqueness of the Finnish language.
- FluentU Finnish Blog
Tips and resources for learning Finnish effectively.