preesenspassiivi

Preesenspassiivi (Finnish: present passive) is a grammatical form in Finnish that combines present tense with the passive voice. The term literally means "present passive" and describes verb forms used when the action is presented without a specific, identified agent. In usage this form often conveys general, impersonal, or collective actions (equivalent to English "one/people/they do" or passive constructions).

Formation and form: the present passive is formed from the verb stem by adding a passive suffix, commonly realized as -taan or -tään, with vowel harmony determining the variant. For example, kirjoittaa (to write) yields kirjoitetaan, and puhua (to speak) yields puhutaan. The exact morphological shape varies by verb type, and related passive forms are used for other tenses (e.g., the past passive often uses -ttiin).

Functions and uses: preesenspassiivi is used to state general facts (Suomessa puhutaan suomea — "Finnish is spoken in Finland"), to issue impersonal instructions or suggestions (Kirjoitetaan kirje — "Let's write a letter" / "A letter is being written"), and in news or formal contexts where the agent is unknown or unimportant. It differs from English passive in that it frequently serves an impersonal or collective function rather than marking a distinct patient-focused voice.

Restrictions: when it is necessary to identify the agent explicitly, speakers typically rephrase the sentence in the active voice with a specified subject; the passive is avoided if a clear actor must be expressed.