Lopettamalla

Lopettamalla is the Finnish non-finite verb form derived from lopettaa, meaning "to stop" or "to end." It is formed with the suffix -malla, creating a gerund that expresses the means, method, or condition under which another action takes place. In English, it is commonly rendered as "by stopping" or "through stopping."

Grammatical role: The -malla form is an instrumental gerund used to express means or method in adverbial clauses. It can introduce a clause that describes how an action is accomplished or what is done in the process, often linked to the main clause in a sentence.

Examples: "Lopettamalla tupakoinnin hän paransi terveydentilaansa." (By quitting smoking, he improved his health.) "Lopettamalla alkoholin nauttimisen hänen energiatasonsa nousi." (By stopping the consumption of alcohol, his energy rose.) The form is common in formal writing and guidelines as a concise way to describe actions taken for a result.

Relation to other forms: The corresponding noun is lopettaminen ("the act of stopping"), and the past participle is lopettanut. Lopettamalla is part of the family of instrumental gerunds formed with -malla (and -mättä for negated forms), used to express means, method, or condition. It is more common in written Finnish and in formal contexts than in casual speech.