Kerrottaen

Kerrottaen is a Finnish adverbial form derived from the verb kerrotta, meaning “to narrate, to recite, or to explain in detail.” The suffix -aen attaches to the verb stem and functions similarly to the English participle‑in‑progressive suffix “‑ing,” producing a continuous, descriptive sense. As an adverb, kerrottaen conveys the idea of explaining something “in detail” or “by way of narration.” It is employed in contexts where a speaker or writer wishes to emphasize the thoroughness of the description or recounting of facts, events, or characteristics. For instance, a student might say, “Kerrottaen projekti on valmistunut viime viikolla,” meaning “The project has been finished in detail last week.”

In practical use, kerrottaen can modify a noun or a clause, much like “in detail” does in English, and it often appears in academic, journalistic, or formal written Finnish, although it is less common in everyday speech. The form is part of a broader pattern of Finnish participial constructions that allow verbs to function adverbially, giving nuance to the manner of an action. Although the base verb kerrotta is not frequently used today, its participial derivative kerrottaen remains a relatively stable element of the Finnish vocabulary.