jaotuvat

Jaotuvat is a Finnish verb form meaning “are divided” or “are distributed.” It is the present passive plural form of the verb jaotua (to be divided, to be distributed). The construction describes how something is partitioned into distinct parts, such as groups, categories, or sections, with the agent performing the division left implicit or unspecified.

Usage and nuance: The form is common in formal, technical, and academic writing, including statistics, research reports, and planning documents. It is used to convey a result of a division rather than an action performed by a specific subject. The parts or groups are typically expressed in cases such as illative or in phrases indicating into which parts the whole is divided, for example, three main groups or several categories.

Examples: Aineisto jaotuu kolmeen pääryhmään. Tulokset jaotuvat useisiin luokkiin. Osallistujat jaotuvat kahteen ikäryhmään. In each case the subject is in the nominative, and the division is described without naming an agent.

Related forms and terminology: The verb is related to jaota (to divide) and jaotua is the passive in general. The noun form jaottelu means division or categorization, while jaotus refers to distribution or allotment. A closely related verb is jakautua, which also means to split or diverge, often used for processes that separate into distinct parts over time.

Overview: Jaotuvat is a standard, neutral term used to describe how something is partitioned into parts in Finnish, especially in statistical, analytical, and planning contexts.