Keskusteltiin

Keskusteltiin is a Finnish verb form derived from keskustella, meaning to discuss or talk. It is the past tense in the passive voice and is often translated into English as “was discussed” or “were discussed.” The form is used when the agent performing the action is unknown or not stated, or when the emphasis is on the occurrence of the discussion rather than who participated.

Grammatical notes: Keskusteltiin is formed by adding the past passive suffix -tiin to the verb stem keskustel-. The passive does not mark person or number, and the agent can be omitted or introduced with a separate phrase (for example, by the board or in the meeting). Examples include: Keskusteltiin tulevista suunnitelmista. Keskusteltiin työntekijöiden oikeuksista. In formal or journalistic Finnish, it is common to begin sentences with this form to report events without naming the participants.

Usage and style: Keskusteltiin is typical in formal or written Finnish, such as news reports, meeting minutes, and official communications. It contrasts with active forms like keskustelimme ("we discussed") or keskustelivat ("they discussed"), which explicitly name the participants. Etymology: the form comes from the noun keskustelu, “a discussion,” and the past passive suffix -tiin attaches to the verb stem to indicate a past, non-agentive action.