kerrottava

Kerrottava is a Finnish grammatical term referring to a participial adjective formed from the verb kertoa, meaning “to tell.” The suffix -ttava attaches to the verb stem kert- to form kerrottava, literally “that which is to be told,” and it is used to describe content or events that will be told in a narrative, description, or instruction.

In usage, kerrottava functions as an attributive modifier and can operate as a noun in some contexts, for example as “kerrottava tarina” (a story to be told) or “kerrottavat asiat” (the things to be told). It is commonly found in linguistic explanations, language pedagogy, and drafting or planning materials where a distinction is made between what is to be stated (kerrottava) and what is shown or described (kuvattava). Kerrottava is part of a broader pattern of -ttava adjectives, such as luettava (to be read) or nähtävä (to be seen). The form is more typical in grammar guides or instructional texts than in everyday speech.

Examples:

- Tämän luvun kerrottava osa käsittelee sankarin motiivin.

- Kerrottavat asiat on järjestettävä kronologisesti.

Origin and related forms: kerrottava is derived from the verb kertoa plus the participial suffix -ttava, sharing a parallel with other -ttava forms used to express “to be X” or “that is to be X.”

Limitations: kerrottava is not always treated as a fixed dictionary entry; it is mainly described as a productive grammatical construction used in descriptive grammar and language education. See also Finnish grammar, participial adjectives, and the suffix -ttava.