vastataan

Vastataan is the present passive form of the Finnish verb vastata, meaning to answer. The form is used when the action of answering is described without specifying who performs it. It appears frequently in public communications, instructions, and Q&A contexts to emphasize the act of answering rather than the agent.

Grammar and formation: Vastataan is formed from the verb stem vastat- with the present passive ending -taan, following Finnish vowel harmony. The subject is indefinite, so sentences like "Kysymyksiin vastataan" translate roughly as "Questions are answered" or "They answer questions" with the agent left implicit. The corresponding active present forms are vastaan (I answer), vastaat (you answer), vastaa (he/she/it answers). Other passive forms include vastattiin (past passive) and vastattaisiin (conditional passive).

Usage: Common uses include announcements, customer service guidelines, FAQs, and signage where the important information is that an answer will be provided, not who will provide it. It is often paired with adverbs of time or politeness, for example, "Kysymyksiin vastataan mahdollisimman nopeasti" (Questions will be answered as soon as possible).

Notes: Vastataan conveys a formal and impersonal tone; in informal spoken Finnish the active forms such as vastaa or vastaan are more common when the subject is known. The form is a standard part of Finnish grammar and is widely understood by native speakers.