Aloittakaa

Aloittakaa is the plural imperative form of the Finnish verb aloittaa, meaning to begin or to start. It is used to instruct or request a group of people to begin a task, activity, or event.

Usage and applicability: Aloittakaa is used when addressing more than one person. In everyday conversation, a singular form such as aloita would be used to address one person, while aloitatte or aloitatte in some contexts can appear as polite or formal variants. The plural imperative is common in formal settings, such as meetings, classrooms, or official instructions.

Form and derivation: The form is the present-tense, second-person plural imperative of aloittaa. It is formed by taking the verb stem and adding the plural imperative ending -takaa. The construction directs multiple participants to start something.

Examples: Aloittakaa kokous. (Please start the meeting.) Aloittakaa esitys nyt. (Please begin the presentation now.)

Related forms: The root verb aloittaa appears in various conjugations, such as minä aloitan (I begin), sinä aloitat (you begin, singular), hän aloittaa (he/she begins), and me aloitamme (we begin). The noun aloitus means start or onset, and aloite means initiative or proposal, reflecting related semantic fields around beginning and initiation.

Notes: Aloittakaa is typically used in formal or structured contexts. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for instructional or administrative language, where clear group directives are preferred.