Ilmaisemissaan

Ilmaisemissaan is a Finnish word that functions as the instructive plural of the verb "ilmaista," which means "to express" or "to state." The instructive mood in Finnish is used to express a wish, a command, or a suggestion, often directed towards oneself or a group the speaker belongs to. Therefore, "ilmaisemissaan" literally translates to "in their expressing" or "when they express themselves."

This form is typically used in subordinate clauses or as an adverbial phrase, indicating a state or action during which something else occurs. For example, one might say "Huomasimme jotain epätavallista heidän ilmaisemissaan" which translates to "We noticed something unusual in their expressions" or "We noticed something unusual when they were expressing themselves." The context clarifies whether it refers to their spoken words, written statements, or even non-verbal expressions.

The grammatical construction of "ilmaisemissaan" involves the third person plural possessive suffix "-an" (their) and the inessive case suffix "-ssaan" (in/within). This complex structure highlights a specific temporal or circumstantial aspect of the act of expression. It's a nuanced grammatical feature that allows for precise description of actions and circumstances in Finnish.