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
The form is a regular past tense conjugation for a plural subject, and it appears in narratives
- 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.
- Kattoivat is not a noun or a participle; it is a finite verb form used with a
- The exact meaning depends on context: it can mean setting a table or covering something, so the
- 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