Kuulivat

Kuulivat is the third-person plural imperfect form of the Finnish verb kuulla, meaning to hear or to listen to. It is used to describe a past event in which several subjects heard something. In English, it corresponds to “they heard,” and it frequently appears in narrative and reported speech.

Grammatical notes: Kuulla is a finite verb whose imperfect plural form is kuulivat. The present tense form for they is kuulevat, and the infinitive is kuulla. The past participle is kuullut. In sentences, kuulivat can be followed by a content clause introduced with että, as in “He kuulivat, että juna oli myöhässä” (They heard that the train was late). It can also take a direct object representing what was heard, for example “He kuulivat uutiset” (They heard the news).

Usage and nuance: Kuulla describes perception through hearing rather than active listening. It often conveys information obtained by hearing something spoken, announced, or reported. The verb contrasts with kuunnella, which means to listen to something with attention or intention, such as listening to music or a speaker.

Examples:

- He kuulivat, että juna oli myöhässä. (They heard that the train was late.)

- Lapset kuulivat koiran haukkua palkintojen jaon jälkeen. (The children heard the dog barking after the prize ceremony.)

- He kuulivat uutiset radiosta ja lähtivät kotiin. (They heard the news on the radio and went home.)

See also: kuulla, kuunnella.