Kyselemään

Kyselemään is a Finnish verb form meaning to inquire or to ask around for information. It is the non-finite form used to express the act of seeking information by asking questions, often in conjunction with another verb that provides the main predicate.

In grammatical terms, kyselemään is the second infinitive (the -mään form) derived from the verb kyseillä or kyseillä. It typically appears in clauses that include another verb, such as going, trying, or planning to perform the inquiry. For example, in the sentence Hän meni kyselemään asioista, the speaker describes going to ask about matters or to inquire for details. The finite present tense form of the same verb is kyselee, as in Hän kyselee usein asioita.

Usage and nuance: kyselemään emphasizes the act of asking to obtain information, often involving asking multiple questions or consulting several sources. It can convey a sense of gathering details rather than making direct, single-point inquiries. The form is common in formal, semi-formal, or journalistic contexts, but it also appears in everyday speech when specifying the action of inquiring.

Related concepts and alternatives: The verb kysyä is a more general, direct form of asking a question. Tiedustella is another related verb meaning to inquire or to probe for information, typically with a slightly more formal tone. The noun form kyseleminen exists to refer to the act of asking around.

Examples:

- Hän meni kyselemään työmahdollisuuksista. (He went to inquire about job opportunities.)

- Ennen päätöksen tekemistä hän aikoo kyselemään lisätietoja. (Before deciding, he plans to inquire for more information.)

Note: Kyselemään functions as a non-finite form and is usually part of a larger predicate; it is not used as a standalone finite verb in isolation.