inaktiivisina

Inaktiivisina is the plural essive form of the Finnish adjective inaktiivinen, meaning "inactive." It is used to describe people or things that are being regarded or described in the state of inactivity or in the role of inactivity, with a plural subject.

Grammatical overview: In Finnish, the essive case expresses a temporary state or role, often translated as "as X" in English. The plural essive ending is -isina, producing inaktiivisina. The singular essive form is inaktiivisena. Related forms include the translative, such as inaktiiviseksi (singular) and inaktiivisiksi (plural), which convey a transition to or becoming inactive.

Usage notes: inaktiivisina tends to appear in analyses, descriptions, or classifications where multiple subjects are being considered in their inactive state. It is common in academic, sociological, or linguistic texts, and can appear in narrative or descriptive passages. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer simpler expressions like "inaktiiviset" with other constructions to convey the same idea.

Examples:

- Kokouksessa osallistujat jaettiin inaktiivisina ja aktiivisina. (In the meeting, participants were divided as inactive and active.)

- Tiimin tehtävät voivat olla inaktiivisina projektin alkuvaiheessa. (The team's tasks may be in a state of inactivity at the start of the project.)

- Hänet pidettiin inaktiivisena kulunutta vuotta. (He was regarded as inactive during the past year.)

Etymology: the term combines the prefix in- with the adjective aktiivinen, via the common Finnish suffix -inen, with essive plural ending -isina.

See also: Finnish grammar, essive case, inaktiivinen, translative forms.