Liikuttaen

Liikuttaen is a Finnish adverbial participle formed with the suffix -ttaen. It is used to express manner or an accompanying action in a non-finite clause, roughly corresponding to English “by moving” or “moving.” The form is derived from a verb stem and describes how the action of the main clause is performed or how something else is being done at the same time.

In grammar, liikuttaen functions as an adverbial clause that links to the main clause without creating a new finite verb. The subject of the participial clause is typically the same as the subject of the main clause, although the subject can sometimes be inferred from context. Because it conveys manner, liikuttaen is most often found in written and formal style, and it can add a crisp, descriptive rhythm to a sentence.

Common usage includes describing physical movement or gesturing, as in examples such as: “Hän puhui rauhallisesti, liikuttaen käsiään” (He spoke calmly, moving his hands) or “Hän nyökkäsi, liikuttaen päätään” (He nodded, moving his head). It can also express concurrent action during narration or explanation, contributing to a dynamic narrative flow.

Liikuttaen is related to other Finnish non-finite forms used to express manner or accompaniment, such as other adverbial participles that attach to verb stems to indicate how actions occur. In translation, liikuttaen often corresponds to English gerunds or participles like “by moving” or simply “moving,” depending on the context.

See also: Finnish grammar, adverbial participles, non-finite clauses.