Tutkitaan

Tutkitaan is a Finnish verb form used to express that an examination or investigation is taking place without specifying the agent. It is the present passive form of the verb tutkita, meaning to investigate or study. As a present passive, tutkitaan typically functions as an impersonal statement in which the actor is either unknown or unimportant. The clause can refer to procedures, inquiries, or scientific analyses that are underway.

In usage, tutkitaan is common in journalism, official statements, and formal writing to describe ongoing investigations or analyses. Because the agent is omitted, the focus is on the process rather than who performs the action. In English translations, tutkitaan is usually rendered as “is being investigated” or “are being investigated,” though context can yield “we investigate” in more informal or directive situations when the subject is understood.

Examples:

Ongelma tutkitaan. The problem is being investigated.

Tutkitaan, mitä tapahtui. An investigation into what happened is underway, or we are investigating what happened.

Lainsäädäntö tutkitaan perusteellisesti. The legislation is being examined thoroughly.

Grammatical notes: The form does not indicate person; the passive voice in Finnish allows impersonal statements. The verb also has related forms for other tenses, such as tutkittiin (was investigated) and tutkittaisiin (would be investigated). Related noun forms include tutkija (researcher) and tutkimus (research, study).