Aloittamaan

Aloittamaan is the third infinitive form of the Finnish verb aloittaa, meaning to begin or commence. As a non-finite verb form, it does not carry its own subject or tense and is used in combination with a finite verb to express a planned or intended action.

Usage and meaning: The third infinitive is typically used after verbs that express decision, intention, or plans. A common construction is with verbs like päättää (to decide) or aikoa (to intend), where aloittamaan signals that the subject intends to begin the action described by the main verb. For example: Hän päätti aloittamaan projektin huomenna. This means “He decided to begin the project tomorrow.” The form can also appear in other contexts where the action is planned or to be undertaken, without specifying the exact time.

Morphology and related forms: The third infinitive is formed from the stem of the verb plus the suffix -maan or -mään, yielding forms such as aloittamaan. It contrasts with the first infinitive (aloittaa) and with nominalized forms like aloittaminen (the act of starting). The third infinitive is a grammatical tool for linking finite moods with non-finite actions, often after verbs of volition and intention.

Notes on usage: While aloittamaan is used to indicate starting an action that is planned or decided, alternative constructions exist in Finnish, such as using the first infinitive after certain verbs (for example, aikoo aloittaa). Context and regional variation influence the preferred form in real-world speech and writing.

See also: aloittaa, aloittaminen, aloitus.