mainitsivat

Mainitsivat is a finite verb form in Finnish. It is the third-person plural imperfect form of the verb mainita, meaning to mention or to cite. The form indicates a past action carried out by more than one subject.

Morphology and usage

Mainitsivat is formed from the verb stem mainita- plus the imperfect marker -i- and the 3rd-person plural ending -vat, yielding mainitsivat. This contrasts with singular past forms such as mainitsi (he/she mentioned). The form is used in narrative and reported speech when the subject is plural. It can govern a direct object, as in mainitsivat jonkun, or introduce a clause with että, meaning “that,” as in mainitsivat, että tapahtuma on siirretty.

Examples

- He mainitsivat tapahtuman. (They mentioned the event.)

- He mainitsivat, että tapahtuma on siirretty. (They mentioned that the event has been rescheduled.)

- He mainitsivat sen mahdollisuuden. (They mentioned that possibility.)

Etymology and related forms

Mainitsivat comes from the verb mainita, which means to mention or to cite. The noun form maininta means “mention” or “citation,” from which the verb is derived. Related verb forms include mainitsi (singular past), mainitsimme (we mentioned), and mainitsitte (you mentioned).

See also

mainita, maininta, Finnish grammar, imperfect tense.