tiputetaan

Tiputetaan is a Finnish verb form used to describe the action of dropping or dripping something in a passive, impersonal sense. It is the present passive form of tiputtaa, which means to drop, spill, or add liquid drop by drop. In this construction, who performs the action is not stated, making the statement general or instructional.

The form is common in contexts where liquids are added gradually or by a controlled flow. In everyday language you might encounter phrases about adding solvent or ingredients dropwise, or describing a procedure where liquid is poured slowly into another substance. In medical settings, tiputetaan can relate to drip or infusion processes, where a liquid medicine or solution is delivered to a patient in a controlled manner. The noun tiputus is often used to refer to the infusion itself, or to the act of dripping.

Grammatically, tiputetaan is the present tense passive form derived from tiputtaa. Finnish passive forms use endings like -taan or -dään, and tiputetaan follows this pattern. The agent performing the action is typically unspecified, which is typical for procedural or descriptive sentences.

Examples:

- Vesi tiputetaan putkeen hitaasti. (Water is dripped into the tube slowly.)

- Liuos tiputetaan koeputkeen varoen. (The solution is added dropwise into the test tube carefully.)

- Tiputus aloitettiin illalla. (The infusion was started in the evening.)

Etymology and related terms: tiputetaan comes from tiputtaa, itself derived from tippa, meaning drop. Related terms include tiputus (drip or infusion) and tippa (a drop).