Maalattaessa

Maalattaessa is a Finnish adverbial participle form derived from the verb maala- (to paint). It expresses a temporal or conditional relation, roughly translating to “while painting” or “when painting.” The form is non-finite and is used to introduce a subordinate clause that describes the circumstances under which the action in the main clause takes place. The subject of the maalattaessa clause is typically indefinite, making the construction useful for general instructions or procedural descriptions.

Formation and use are characteristic of Finnish grammar. Maalattaessa is built from the verb stem maala-, plus the passive participle suffix -tta- and the inessive/adverbial suffix -essa, yielding maala-tta-essa, contracted to maalattaessa. As a non-finite clause, it can be linked to a main clause in present or general statements and does not require a specific subject in the subordinate clause.

In practice, maalattaessa appears frequently in manuals, safety guidelines, and descriptive texts related to painting work. It allows writers to specify conditions that apply during the painting process without creating a new finite verb for the subordinate clause. For example: Maalattaessa huoneen seiniä on käytettävä suojavaatteita. (When painting the walls of a room, protective clothing should be worn.) Maalattaessa lattiaa on huolehdittava siitä, ettei maali pääse lattialle. (While painting the floor, ensure that paint does not reach the floor.)

See also: maalaus, gerund form in Finnish, participial constructions.