Gerundimuoto

Gerundimuoto is a term used in Finnish linguistics to refer to the gerund, a non-finite verbal form that functions as a noun and expresses the action or process described by a verb. In this sense, a gerund denotes the action itself rather than a specific occurrence of the action.

In Finnish grammar, the gerund is typically formed by adding the suffix -minen to the verb stem. For example, from the verb lukea (to read) the gerund is lukeminen, meaning “the act of reading” or “reading.” The gerund acts like a noun and can take standard noun inflections, such as genitive or partitive forms, to express relations between actions and other words. For instance, lukemisen (of reading) or lukemista (some reading). The gerund may function as the subject or object of a sentence, as in Lukeminen kannattaa (Reading is worthwhile).

The gerund is distinct from other non-finite forms such as participles. While participles often describe nouns in relation to properties or ongoing states, the gerund primarily names the action or process as a concept. Other verb-derived forms in Finnish, such as the present participle or other participial constructions, serve different grammatical roles, such as modifying nouns or describing actions tied to subjects.

Cross-linguistically, the concept resembles the English gerund, where an -ing form of a verb functions as a noun, as in Running is fun. Languages vary in how they form and inflect gerunds, but the core idea remains: a verbal form converted into a noun to express the act or process of the verb.