kuluttavat

Kuluttavat is a Finnish finite verb form meaning “they consume” or “they are consuming.” It is the third-person plural present indicative form of the verb kuluttaa, which can translate to consume, expend, or deplete. As a verb, kuluttavat is used when the subject of the sentence is plural, such as people, groups, or organizations.

Grammatical notes: Kuluttavat is a present-tense, finite form. The infinitive form of the verb is kuluttaa, and the corresponding forms follow standard Finnish verb conjugation. The ending -vat varies with vowel harmony, but kuluttavat specifically marks third-person plural in the present tense. Because it is a finite verb, it requires a subject and can take a direct object, for example kuluttavat energiaa (they consume energy) or kuluttavat aikaa (they consume time).

Usage and context: Kuluttavat is commonly used in discussions of consumption in everyday language, economics, and environmental topics. It can describe the action of consuming goods or resources, as well as broader expenditures such as time or money. Examples include: Kuluttajat kuluttavat paljon energiaa. (Consumers consume a lot of energy.) Ihmiset kuluttavat arjessaan aikaa. (People consume time in their daily lives.) Valtiot kuluttavat resursseja tarjotakseen palveluita. (States consume resources to provide services.)

Relation to related terms: Kuluttavat is often contrasted with kuluttaa (the infinitive “to consume”) and with kuluttajat (consumers, the noun). Understanding kuluttavat helps distinguish subject-verb agreement and clarifies who is performing the action in Finnish sentences.

See also: Kuluttaa, Kuluttajat, Finnish verb conjugation.