pidetään

Pidetään is a Finnish verb form that functions as the present passive of the verb pitää. In everyday language it means that something is held, kept, or considered in a certain way, without specifying who performs the action. The form is common in statements about events, rules, and general practices.

Usage and meaning

Pidetään is frequently used to describe events or arrangements, where the agent is not stated. For example, Juhlat pidetään lauantaina means “The party is held on Saturday,” and Tilaisuudet pidetään kaupungin tiloissa translates to “The events are held in city facilities.” The form can also express a general assessment or policy, such as Laki pidetään voimassa, meaning “The law remains in force,” where the emphasis is on the state of affairs rather than who enforces it.

Impersonal nature and style

Because pidetään is a passive form, it creates an impersonal tone. This makes it common in news reporting, official announcements, and instructional texts, where a neutral, non-agentive statement is desirable. It can be negated with ei pidetä, as in Päätös ei pidetä salassa, meaning “The decision is not kept secret.”

Tense and related forms

Pidettiin is the past passive form, used to say that something “was held” or “was considered.” Pidetäisiin or pidettäisiin is the conditional or potential passive form. The corresponding active forms include pitää (to hold/keep), potom in contexts where a specific subject performs the action.

Etymology and related verbs

Pidetään derives from the Finnish verb pitää. It shares semantic fields with other keep/hold verbs and forms used to describe arrangements, norms, and events without naming the actor.

See also

pitää, pidetty, pidettävyys.