Passive Potential

Level 5

The passive potential expresses that an action is likely or probable in a formal context. It combines the passive voice (impersonal) with the potential mood (probability).

How It Works

The passive potential is a rare and highly formal verb form. While the active potential refers to a specific subject (e.g., 'he will probably go'), the passive potential refers to an unspecified agent.

1. Formation (Present)
The form is built on the passive stem. Note that the choice between the endings with a or ä (e.g., -ttaneen/-ttäneen) depends on standard Finnish vowel harmony (back-vowel words take a; front-vowel words and words with only neutral e/i take ä).

  • Verb Type 1: Start with the weak stem. Change a final -a/-ä to -e- if present; otherwise keep the stem vowel. In either case, add -ttaneen/-ttäneen. Example: kertoa → kerro- → kerrottaneen; ottaa → ota- → otettaneen.
  • Verb Types 2–3: Use the infinitive stem + -taneen/-täneen. Example: saada → saataneen; mennä → mentäneen.
  • Verb Types 4–6: Drop the entire infinitive marker -ta/-tä (leaving the vowel stem like halu-, harki-, vanhe-), and then add -ttaneen/-ttäneen. Example: haluta → haluttaneen; harkita → harkittaneen; vanheta → vanhettaneen.
  • Negative: Drop the final -en from the affirmative form and use the negative verb ei. Example: ei tehtäne (it will probably not be done).

2. Formation (Past / Perfekti)
The past passive potential is formed using the auxiliary verb lienee (which does not conjugate for person in the passive) plus the passive past participle. Example: lienee päätetty (it was probably decided), lienee tehty (it was probably done). The negative past is formed with ei liene plus the passive past participle. Example: ei liene tehty (it was probably not done). Note that the verb olla has its own regular passive potential present form: oltaneen (negative ei oltane). Example: Kokouksessa oltaneen hiljaa. (People will probably be quiet in the meeting.)

3. Usage and Register
This form is almost exclusively found in official documents, news headlines, and meeting minutes. In everyday speech, Finns use the passive indicative with an adverb like varmaan (probably) or ehkä (maybe).

4. Meaning
It does not indicate a future tense (as Finnish has no future tense), but rather a mood of probability in journalism. In administrative language and formal agendas, it can also function pragmatically as a tentative proposal or recommendation, depending on context. For example, Päätettäneen... translates to 'It is proposed to decide...' or 'Proposed decision: ...'.

No Active-Style Consonant Assimilation
The passive marker retains t/tt before -aneen/-äneen: tultaneen, pestäneen, sanottaneen. Do not replace these with active-style tullaneen or pessäneen. Compare active tullee, pessee: these have different stems and no passive t.

Examples (4)

  1. Päätös tehtäneen ensi viikon kokouksessa.

    The decision will likely be made in next week's meeting.

    Word by Word: Decision will-probably-be-made next week's in-meeting.

    This is a classic example of the passive potential used in a formal report or news context.

  2. Asiaa käsiteltäneen uudelleen myöhemmin.

    The matter will probably be discussed again later.

    Word by Word: Matter will-probably-be-handled again later.

    The verb 'käsitellä' (to handle/discuss) is frequently used in this form in administrative Finnish.

  3. Uusi laki vahvistettaneen vielä tämän vuoden aikana.

    The new law will likely be confirmed within this year.

    Word by Word: New law will-probably-be-confirmed yet this year's during.

    Used here to express a high degree of probability regarding a future official action.

  4. Ehdotus hyväksyttäneen ilman muutoksia.

    The proposal will likely be accepted without changes.

    Word by Word: Proposal will-probably-be-accepted without changes.

    Commonly seen in meeting minutes to indicate the expected outcome of a vote or proposal.

Common Mistakes

  • Choosing a formal form when a neutral conversational tone is intended.

    Different MeaningTehtäneen se huomenna.
    Tehdään se varmaan huomenna.

    This form can sound formal or deliberately tentative in conversation. Passive indicative plus varmaan is usually more conversational; tehtäneen is grammatical, not a speech error.

  • Confusing the passive potential with the active potential.

    Hän tehtäneen työt.
    Hän tehnee työt.

    'Tehtäneen' is passive (it will be done), while 'tehnee' is active (he/she will probably do). Passive forms never have a personal subject like 'hän'.

  • Dropping the final '-n' in the affirmative passive potential.

    Päätettänee, että kokous siirretään.
    Päätettäneen, että kokous siirretään.

    The affirmative passive potential MUST end in '-n' (e.g., päätettäneen). The negative removes the final -en, giving a single final e: ei päätettäne.

How It Connects

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Passive PotentialLevel 5

Learn This First

To understand the passive potential, you need to be familiar with how the passive stem is formed (from the passive present and participle) and how the potential mood marker -ne- functions in Finnish.