Ehdottaen

Ehdottaa is a Finnish verb meaning "to propose," and ehdottaen is its present active participle form. As a non-finite verb form, ehdottaen functions primarily as an adverbial participle, indicating an attendant circumstance or manner, and it typically relates to the subject of the main clause.

Formation and function: Ehdottaen is formed from the verb stem ehdotta- plus the participle suffix -en, producing a present active participle. It is similar in function to other -en participles such as sanoen (saying) or tekemällä (by doing). The participle does not have a separate subject; it agrees with the subject of the main clause and describes what that subject is doing in a given frame.

Usage and style: Ehdottaen is most common in formal or written Finnish, such as official reports, minutes, or literary prose. It can introduce a description of how an action is carried out or provide contextual information about the speaker or actors: for example, "Ehdottaen uusia käytäntöjä, yritys esitteli suunnitelmansa," meaning "Proposing new practices, the company presented its plan." It may appear in longer non-finite sequences, sometimes alongside clauses starting with että to express proposed content.

Limitations: The form is relatively formal and may sound archaic or literary in everyday speech. In casual contexts, Finns typically use finite verb constructions or other phrasing to convey the same idea.

Related forms: ehdotus (proposal), ehdottaa (to propose), ehdottanut (proposed; past participle), ehdottaminen (the act of proposing).

Etymology: Derived from the verb ehdottaa with the present active participle suffix -en.