Hidastuessa

Hidastuessa is a Finnish non-finite verb form belonging to the category of adverbial participles. It expresses that the action of slowing down occurs simultaneously with another event, roughly translating to “as it slows down” or “while it slows down” in English. The form is used to create a subordinate clause that provides time-related background for the main clause.

Grammatical features and formation

Hidastuessa is derived from the verb hidastua (to slow down) with the present adverbial participle suffix -essa/ -essä, which marks simultaneous or accompanying action. The resulting clause is non-finite and typically attaches to a main clause to set the temporal context. This construction is common in Finnish prose and can replace a finite clause that would use kun or samalla rakenne to express time.

Usage and function

The form is most common in written Finnish, particularly in descriptive or journalistic writing, where it allows compact expressions of ongoing background activity. It is suitable for descriptions of moving processes, machinery, traffic, or natural phenomena, where one event occurs concurrently with another.

Examples

Juna hidastui hidastuessaan kohti asemaa.

Liikenne hidastui hidastuessaan mutkikkaalla tieosuudella.

See also

Hidastua and adverbial participles are related topics in Finnish grammar.