liukuvatko

Liukuvatko is a Finnish interrogative verb form derived from the verb liukua, meaning "to slide" or "to glide." It is created by taking the present tense third-person plural stem liukuvat and appending the question particle -ko, giving liukuvatko. In Finnish, the question particle attaches to the end of the word rather than requiring subject-auxiliary inversion, so liukuvatko functions as a direct yes-no question meaning "are they sliding?" or "do they slide?" depending on context.

Usage and scope: Liukuvatko is used to ask whether multiple subjects are engaging in sliding movement. This can refer to physical sliding on a surface—such as objects, people, or vehicles—as well as figurative motion, for example a process or event that seems to be slipping or progressing in a certain way. The form appears in both casual conversation and more formal discourse, wherever a straightforward yes-no question about sliding is appropriate.

Grammatical notes: The -ko/-kö question suffix in Finnish harmonizes with the preceding vowels, and in the case of liukuvatko the suffix attaches to the word liukuvat. The construction is flexible and can be combined with various subjects or modifiers: Liukuvatko nuo laatikot? Liukuvatko nämä esineet lattialla? The question particle is often omitted in indirect questions or when the sentence's mood is clear from context, but liukuvatko remains a standard, recognizable direct-question form.