The passive present participle (-tava / -tävä) is frequently used to express strong obligation or strict requirements—perfect for workplace rules, policies, and official regulations.
The Obligation Structure
To express that someone must do something, use this formula:
Genitive Subject + on + Passive Present Participle
- Subject: The person doing the action is in the genitive case (ending in -n).
- Verb: Always on, regardless of who the subject is (never olen, ovat, etc.).
- Participle: The main action.
| All employees must follow the rules. | Kaikkien työntekijöiden on noudatettava sääntöjä. |
| We must follow this new regulation. | Meidän on noudatettava tätä uutta määräystä. |
Notice how kaikki työntekijät (all employees) becomes kaikkien työntekijöiden, and me (we) becomes meidän to fit the genitive requirement. Even with plural subjects, the verb on remains unchanged.
Professional Requirements
This structure is standard in official settings where rules and prompt actions are required.
| The manager must process the matter without delay. | Johtajan on käsiteltävä asia viipymättä. |
| After the sick leave, the employee must bring a doctor's certificate. | Sairausloman jälkeen työntekijän on tuotava lääkärin todistus. |
It is also used to lay out daily expectations for behavior, appearance, and safety.
| They must dress appropriately in the office. | Heidän on pukeuduttava asiallisesti toimistossa. |
| You must use the device carefully, because safety is really important. | Sinun on käytettävä laitetta varovasti, koska turvallisuus on todella tärkeää. |
Just remember the core formula: who needs to do it (in the genitive) + on + what must be done (the -tava / -tävä participle).
