alkavat

Alkavat is a form associated with the Finnish verb alkaa, which means to begin or to start. In standard Finnish, the present tense third-person plural form is alkavat (written with two a’s, as alkavat). Alkavat is commonly encountered as a nonstandard or misspelled variant in informal writing. The meaning of the correct form alkavat is “they begin” or “they start.”

Etymology and meaning: alkaa is built on the root alka- related to the concept of beginning, with the -a- ending typical for Finnish verbs in the infinitive. The present tense forms are built by adding person-specific endings to the stem. Alkavat, the standard plural form, is used when the subject is plural and the action of starting is attributed to them.

Usage and grammar: Alkava forms describe events, actions, or processes that commence. It is used with plural subjects, e.g., Koulut alkavat ensi viikolla (The classes begin next week). It can also appear in constructions with an infinitive to express “begin to do something,” such as he alkavat lukea (they begin to read). In formal writing, the correct form should be alkavat; alkavat may appear in rapidly written text or as a typographical variant.

Conjugation note: The present tense forms of alkaa include minä alan, sinä alat, hän alkaa, me alamme, te alatte, he alkavat. The key distinction for this topic is that the third-person plural present is alkavat, not alkavat or alkavat. Related verbs include aloittaa, a more formal synonym meaning “to commence.”