selitettiin

Selitettiin is Finnish, functioning as the past tense passive form of the verb selittää, which means to explain. It is used when an explanation was given, but the doer of the explaining is either unknown or not specified. The form expresses a completed action in the past and is common in formal or impersonal statements.

Grammatical notes: The passive past form is created from the verb stem selit- and the suffix -tiin, yielding selitettiin. In Finnish, this construction allows speakers to describe explanations without naming the author, making it suitable for reports, manuals, journalism, and official statements. The subject of the sentence is often omitted or generalized.

Usage: Selitettiin is typically used to report how something was explained rather than who explained it. It can refer to explanations of rules, procedures, or findings to an audience or reader. Examples include: "Käytännön ohjeet selitettiin selkeästi." (The practical instructions were explained clearly.) "Lainsäädännöstä selitettiin keskeiset kohdat tiedotustilaisuudessa." (The key points of the legislation were explained at the briefing.)

Translations: In English, selitettiin is commonly translated as "was explained" or "were explained," depending on the implied subject. The passive form aligns with Finnish tendencies to defer to the content of the explanation rather than the person delivering it.

See also: selittää, selitys, selitetty, Finnish grammar, passive voice.