muodotaan

Muodotaan is a Finnish word that functions as a present passive form of the verb muodostaa, meaning to form, constitute, or create. In English translations, it is typically rendered as "is formed" or "are formed." The form is used to describe an action of forming without specifying who performs it, emphasizing the result or the process itself.

The word is common in formal, technical, and descriptive writing where an impersonal or generalized statement is preferred. It frequently appears in directives, explanations of procedures, scientific descriptions, and legal or administrative texts, where the focus is on what happens rather than who does it. Because Finnish frequently employs the passive voice to present information neutrally, muodotaan helps maintain an objective tone in such contexts.

Morphology and usage notes: Muodotaan represents a standard present passive construction in Finnish. Like other passive forms, it does not specify the subject’s person or number; the surrounding noun phrases determine the referent. If an agent is mentioned, it is typically introduced with other elements in the sentence, such as by phrases or context, rather than by marking the verb for who is performing the action. This makes muodotaan a versatile choice for presenting states or results in a wide range of texts.

In summary, muodotaan denotes a passive, present-tense expression of forming or creating, primarily used to convey processes and outcomes in a neutral, impersonal way. See also Finnish grammar and the broader concept of passive voice in Finnish.