kattoivat

Kattoivat is a Finnish verb form, specifically the third-person plural past tense of the verb kattaa. The core senses of kattaa are “to cover” and “to set/lay (a table),” so kattoivat is used when multiple subjects performed either action in the past.

In the sense of setting the table, kattaa means arranging dishes, utensils, and other items for a meal. In this usage, kattoivat describes that several people laid the table previously. In the sense of covering, kattaa can mean to place a covering over something; kattoivat would then indicate that several subjects carried out the covering in the past, with the object typically specifying what was covered.

The form is a regular past tense conjugation for a plural subject, and it appears in narratives and descriptions of past events. The pronunciation emphasizes a double t and a long vowel in the verb stem, roughly [ˈkɑtːoi̯vat].

Examples:

- He kattoivat pöydän illalliselle. They laid the table for dinner.

- Sotilaat kattoivat varusteensa yön aikana. The soldiers laid out/arranged their equipment during the night.

Notes:

- Kattoivat is not a noun or a participle; it is a finite verb form used with a plural subject.

- The exact meaning depends on context: it can mean setting a table or covering something, so the object of the verb clarifies the sense.

See also:

- kattaa, the infinitive form

- katto (roof), a related but distinct word with different meaning and usage

Kattoivat functions as a standard example of Finnish past tense for plural subjects and demonstrates how a single verb form can cover multiple spatial or practical meanings depending on context.