Kokeillessaan

Kokeillessaan is a Finnish grammatical form derived from the verb kokeilla, meaning to try or to test. It is the present active participle form that expresses a simultaneous action, typically translated into English as “while trying” or “in trying.” The form is used to create an adverbial clause that describes what one was doing at the same time as the action of the main clause.

Formation and function: Kokeillessaan is formed by attaching the -essaan suffix to the verb stem of kokeilla, yielding a participial clause that accompanies the main clause. In practice, the subject of the participial clause is usually the same as the subject of the main clause, allowing the clause to convey concurrent activity without repeating the subject. This construction helps shorten sentences and provides a nuanced, flowing narrative.

Usage notes: The participial clause with -essaan often appears set off with commas when it interrupts or accompanies a main clause. It signals ongoing action rather than a completed attempt, and it is most common in written Finnish, especially in descriptive or narrative passages. Although primarily used with the same subject as the main clause, the form is flexible in style and can sometimes appear in more informal writing, where the surrounding context clarifies the intended subject.

Example: Hän, kokeillessaan uutta reseptiä, huomasi sen maistuvan oudolta. Translation: He, while trying a new recipe, noticed that it tasted odd. This illustrates how kokeillessaan conveys concurrent action linked to the subject of the main clause.