omistivat

Omistivat is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Finnish verb omistaa, meaning they owned or possessed. It is used to describe past ownership by multiple subjects and is a standard form in narrative or reported past events.

Morphology and grammar: Omistivat is formed from the verb stem omist- with the imperfect plural ending -ivat, yielding omistivat. It agrees with a plural subject and appears in the indicative mood. This form contrasts with other past forms of omistaa, such as omisti (he/she owned) for singular subjects or with participial and perfect constructions like omistaneet (owned [having owned]) or ovat omistaneet (have owned).

Usage: The form is common in everyday Finnish when recounting past ownership. It can govern a range of direct objects, including real estate, animals, items, or businesses. It does not carry speculative meaning; it simply states that ownership occurred in the past. Time expressions such as viime vuonna (last year) or monia vuosia (many years) often accompany it to situate the event in time. In subordinate clauses, it can appear as että he omistivat (that they owned) or jos he omistivat (if they owned), depending on the clause.

Examples:

- He omistivat vanhan maatilan useita vuosia.

- He omistivat kolme hevosta.

- Kauppias kertoi, että he omistivat useita kiinteistöjä.

Etymology: derived from the verb omistaa, which means to own, with the noun omistus relating to possession.