jatkoivat

Jatkoivat is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Finnish verb jatkaa, meaning "to continue" or "to go on." It is used to indicate that multiple subjects carried on with an action in the past. The form signals ongoing or resumed activity over a time frame in the past and is common in narrative, reporting, and everyday speech.

In terms of usage, jatkoivat appears with plural subjects, for example “he jatkoivat matkaansa” (they continued their journey) or “opiskelijat jatkoivat keskusteluaan” (the students continued their discussion). It contrasts with singular past forms such as jatkoi (he/she continued) or the first-person plural past jatkoimme (we continued). The tense is imperfective, so it emphasizes the continuation rather than a completed, single event.

Formation and related forms: jatkoivat is derived from the stem jatko- attached to the past-tense plural ending -ivat. Like other Finnish verbs, it appears within typical subject–verb order and agrees with the subject in number. The noun jatko means continuation or sequel, and the related concept jatko-opiskelu refers to continuing education. Understanding jatkoivat helps in interpreting past narration and reports where multiple actors are described as continuing actions.