Tarvitaan

Tarvitaan is a Finnish verb form meaning "is needed" or "are needed." It is the present passive form of tarvita and is used as an impersonal construction to express necessity without naming the agent performing the action.

Grammatical notes: In sentences with tarvitaan, the thing that is needed typically appears in the partitive case (for example rahaa, lisää aikaa, osaamista). The clause has no explicit subject; the agent is either unspecified or generalized. The form functions as a general statement of necessity, and the subject, if present, would refer to the thing that is required.

Usage: Tarvitaan is common in announcements, planning, and notices where a shortage or requirement is being stated. It is often used in formal or semi-formal contexts, but it also appears in everyday language to indicate that something is needed.

Examples:

- Tarvitaan lisää aikaa. (More time is needed.)

- Tarvitaan vapaaehtoisia. (Volunteers are needed.)

- Tarvitaan terveellistä ruokavaliota ja liikuntaa. (A healthy diet and exercise are needed.)

- Tarvitaan johtopäätöksiä ennen päätöksentekoa. (Conclusions are needed before a decision can be made.)

Related forms: Tarvitseminen expresses need in a more active sense (someone needs something), while tarvita in its non-passive forms appears in phrases like tarvitsen rahaa (I need money). Tarvitaan remains a versatile tool for indicating requirements without specifying who will fulfill them.