Infiniivissä

Infiniivissä is a term used in Finnish grammar to refer to constructions that center on the infinitive form of a verb. In Finnish, the infinitive (infinitiivi) is a non-finite verb form used to express actions in a general, timeless, or purpose-related sense. The phrase infiniivissä literally means “in the infinitive,” and it is commonly employed in grammar discussions to label sentences or clauses where the infinitive functions as the main verbal element or as a dependent non-finite clause.

Use and functions

One key function is expressing general statements or purposes with the infinitive after adjectives or verbs, for example in constructions like “On tärkeää syödä säännöllisesti” (It is important to eat regularly). In such cases the verb appears in the infinitive form rather than as a finite verb. Infiniivissä can also describe infinitive clauses that act as complements to a finite predicate, as in sentences where the main action is stated and the following action is given in the infinitive.

Relation to other non-finite forms

Finnish has several non-finite verb forms besides the basic infinitive, and infiniivissä is a label used when a clause or phrase is analyzed as an infinitive-based construction rather than a finite clause or a participial form. The term helps linguists distinguish different non-finite constructions in descriptive grammar and typology.

Limitations

The infinitive rarely functions as a standalone main predicate in normal Finnish sentences; it more often appears in infinitive clauses, purpose clauses, or in predicative expressions with adjectives. Infiniivissä as a label aids description rather than signaling a distinct, standalone syntactic category.

See also: Infinitiivi, Non-finite clauses, Finnish grammar.