sulkeilivat

Sulkeilivat is a term of Finnish origin that translates roughly to "they were closing" or "they closed." It is the past tense plural form of the verb "sulkea," which means to close, shut, or lock. The word is used in Finnish to describe an action of closure performed by multiple subjects or an unspecified group in the past.

In Finnish grammar, verbs are conjugated based on tense, mood, person, and number. "Sulkeilivat" specifically indicates that the action of closing happened in the past, and that the subject performing the action was plural. This could refer to people, objects, or abstract entities. For example, one might say "Ovet sulkeilivat" meaning "The doors were closing" or "The doors closed." Similarly, "He sulkeilivat ikkunat" would mean "They were closing the windows."

The nuance of "sulkeilivat" compared to other past tense forms of "sulkea" lies in its plural nature. Singular past tense forms would be used if the subject were singular, such as "hän sulki" (he/she closed) or "se sulki" (it closed). The plural form emphasizes the involvement of multiple agents in the act of closing. Understanding this conjugation is key to comprehending the precise meaning of sentences in Finnish that utilize this verb form.