The Impersonal Passive ("One does")
In English, intransitive verbs—verbs that don't take a direct object, like "sleep," "live," or "relax"—cannot usually be used in the passive voice. In Finnish, however, the passive is much more flexible. You can use the passive form with almost any verb, as long as the action is performed by a human.
When you use an intransitive verb in the passive, it expresses a generic or collective action. It roughly translates to "people (in general) do," "we do," or "one does."
| In a utopia, one lives according to an ideal. | Utopiassa eletään ihanteen mukaan. |
| In the morning one works hard, and then wealth is shared equally. | Aamulla ahkeroidaan, ja sitten varallisuus jaetaan tasapuolisesti. |
| Here one relaxes, because anyone at all gets a basic income. | Täällä rentoudutaan, koska vaikka kuka saa perustuloa. |
Negative Impersonal Statements
To state that "one does not" or "people do not" do something, use the standard negative passive. Combine the negative word ei with the passive connegative form (the passive verb minus its final -an/-än).
| When scarcity disappears, one does not suffer from greed. | Kun niukkuus katoaa, ahneudesta ei kärsitä. |
| Because of wealth, one does not live in scarcity anymore. | Varallisuuden takia niukkuudessa ei enää eletä. |
Asking General Questions
You can easily ask general questions about what people do in a certain place or situation by adding the question particle -ko/-kö directly to the passive verb.
| Does one sleep well in a utopia, if harmony is maintained? | Nukutaanko utopiassa hyvin, jos sopu säilyy? |
| Does one sit side by side in harmony in these, so that the sense of community grows? | Istutaanko näissä sovussa vierekkäin, jotta yhteisöllisyys kasvaa? |