kykenevätkö

Kykenevätkö is a Finnish verb form used to ask whether a group or person is able to do something. It is formed from the verb kykeneä, meaning “to be able, to be capable,” in the third-person plural present tense (kykenevät) with the question particle -kö attached, yielding kykenevätkö. The question particle is placed after the finite verb, and the subject often follows the verb, which is a common word order in Finnish.

The form is most often used in formal or written contexts, and in everyday speech speakers typically use the synonym pystyvätkö, which is more common in colloquial language. Nevertheless, kykenevätkö remains correct and is favored when the speaker wishes to emphasize capability or potential in a more formal register.

Usage notes:

- The question can introduce a following infinitive or a clause that specifies the action, for example: Kykenevätkö he aloittamaan projektin tänään? or Kykenevätkö he vastaamaan kysymykseen?

- The subject of the sentence is often placed after the verb, consistent with Finnish syntax, but any understood subject can appear as needed.

- The form is limited to third-person plural in its standard interrogative usage. For second-person or singular forms, different verb forms and corresponding question particles apply (for example, kykenettekö for “can you?” in formal address).

In summary, kykenevätkö is a formal, grammatically correct way to ask “Are they able to…?” in Finnish, functioning as the interrogative variant of kykenevät.