Tilannemuoto

Tilannemuoto is a term in Finnish linguistics describing a category of verb forms that expresses modality—the speaker's attitude toward the reality or likelihood of the described situation. It is distinct from tense (time reference) and aspect, and it encompasses several moods that Finnish verbs can take.

Traditional Finnish grammars describe tilannemuoto as including four main moods: indicatiivinen (indicative), konditionaali (conditional), potentiaali (potential), and imperatiivi (imperative). The indicative is used for statements of fact and direct descriptions of reality; the conditional expresses hypothetical or non-factual situations and often appears in conditional clauses or polite requests; the potentiaali signals possibility or probability; the imperative is used for commands or requests.

Most forms of tilannemuoto are expressed through verb endings, and they interact with tense and other factors to convey nuanced meaning. While the term is primarily used for Finnish, similar mood classifications exist in other Finnic languages, and the concept is discussed in cross-linguistic studies of modality.

Examples: Indikatiivinen: Minä menen koululle. Konditionaali: Minä menisin koululle, jos voisin. Potentiaali: Se voisi olla totta. Imperatiivi: Mene koululle.