kuluttuvat

Kuluttuvat is a Finnish verb form that can appear in texts as a present-tense construction related to the verb kuluttaa, meaning to consume or use up. In standard Finnish, the present tense third-person plural active form of kuluttaa is kuluttavat, used with subjects such as he, they. The form kuluttuvat is not the standard form in contemporary Finnish and is generally regarded as nonstandard, a misspelling, or a result of dialectal or stylistic variation rather than a separate approved form.

Etymology and grammar: The root is kulutt-, from kuluttaa. The ordinary present tense plural suffix for most verbs is -vat/-vät, giving kuluttavat for the third-person plural. The appearance of kuluttuvat instead of kuluttavat is treated as a deviation from the normative grammar in most language references.

Usage notes: For learners and in formal writing, kuluttavat is the form to use. Kuluttuvat may be encountered occasionally, but it is not considered correct standard Finnish. If you see kuluttuvat, it is reasonable to check whether it is a typographical error, a nonstandard dialect influence, or a deliberate stylistic choice by the author.

Related topics: kuluttaa (the infinitive and its meanings), kuluttavat (the standard form for they consume), Finnish verb conjugation, Finnish grammar.