Tartutaan

Tartutaan is the Finnish passive present form of the verb tarttua, meaning to take hold, grab, or seize. This form is used with an impersonal subject, so the agent performing the action is not stated. In practice, tartutaan is common in formal or official language to indicate that some action will be taken without specifying who will undertake it. It often conveys a sense of collective responsibility or a general policy.

Usage and meaning

Tartutaan is typically employed to announce planned or required actions by authorities, organizations, or society at large. It functions like an impersonal statement about what will be done, rather than directing an explicit imperative at a specific person or group.

Examples

- Tartutaan toimeen. — Measures will be taken / We will take action.

- Tartutaan toimenpiteisiin. — We will take the necessary steps.

- Tartutaan selvittämään tilanne. — We will proceed to investigate the situation.

Grammatical notes

Tartutaan is the third-person plural passive form of tarttua in the present tense. It is used without an explicit subject, often in conjunction with prepositional phrases or noun phrases describing the action to be undertaken. It is common in news reports, government statements, and policy discourse, where a neutral, non-personal tone is desired.

Etymology

The form derives from tarttua, related to catching or seizing, with the passive construction fixed into idiomatic expresses about taking action.