Luovuttaen

Luovuttaen is a non-finite verb form in Finnish, derived from the verb luovuttaa, which means to surrender, hand over, or relinquish. It functions as a present adverbial participle (a converb) and is used to express manner, means, or a simultaneous action in relation to the main clause. In English, it is commonly rendered as “by handing over” or “by surrendering.”

Morphology and use: Luovuttaen is formed by taking the verb stem luovutta- and adding the suffix -en. As a converb, it connects clauses without a conjunction and typically shares the same subject as the main clause, though the construction can also express instrumentality or causation. It emphasizes how the action of the main clause is carried out. For example: Hän luovuttaen aseet viranomaisille, lopetti vastustuksen. (By handing over the weapons to the authorities, he ended the resistance.) The form is most common in written Finnish, particularly in formal, historical, or juridical contexts.

Register and alternatives: Luovuttaen is relatively formal and somewhat restricted in everyday speech. In common conversation, speakers often use finite clauses or other non-finite forms such as luovuttamalla (the adverbial participle with -malla/-mällä variants) or use simple past/other constructions to convey the same idea. The choice of form can affect tone, with luovuttaen lending a more literary or official nuance.

See also: Finnish converb, luovuttaa, participle forms, non-finite verbs.