Pohjaavat

Pohjaavat is Finnish for the third-person plural present tense of the verb pohjata, meaning to base, ground, or found. It is used when plural subjects indicate that their conclusions, claims, or actions are founded on something else, such as evidence, data, or premises. The form appears frequently in academic, journalistic, and legal writing to explain the foundations of statements or analyses.

Grammatically, pohjata is a transitive verb, and pohjaavat requires a subject in the plural and an object or complement indicating what is being used as a basis. Common constructions include pohjaavat + [lähteet or evidence], or pohjaavat [jokin data or observations]. The related singular form pohjaa is used when a single subject bases something on something else. There are related phrases such as pohjaus (basis or foundation) and pohjaantua (to be based on, in passive or middle voice).

Usage and nuance: pohjaavat emphasizes that an argument or decision rests on supporting material rather than on intuition alone. It is typical in reporting results, presenting scientific or investigative findings, and describing strategic decisions. While it often implies justification through evidence, it does not itself assert the quality of the basis; the strength of the basis is assessed separately.

See also: pohja, pohjaus, pohjautua, peruste.

Examples:

- Tutkimukset pohjaavat havaintoihin ja tilastollisiin analyyseihin.

- Yrityksen suunnitelmat pohjaavat markkinatutkimukseen sekä asiakaspalautteeseen.

- Johtopäätökset pohjaavat todisteisiin, ei ainoastaan arveluihin.