Näkyäkseen

Näkyäkseen is a non-finite verb form of the Finnish verb näkyä, meaning to appear or be visible. It is a purposive (third) infinitive form used to express intention or aim, roughly translating to in order to be seen or to appear. The form is used in subordinate constructions to indicate the purpose behind an action, aligning with the sense of “so that one may be seen.”

Grammatical notes and scope: Näkyäkseen belongs to the category of kolmannen infinitiivin adjunkti (the purposive third infinitive) in Finnish grammar. Such forms attach to the stem of the verb and express intention or outcome in relation to the action of the main clause. The construction is more commonly found in formal, literary, or historical Finnish than in everyday speech, where simpler clauses or participial phrases are typically preferred.

Usage and register: In contemporary Finnish, näkyäkseen is relatively rare outside of literary or archaic contexts. It may appear in descriptions of motives, presentations, or appearances where the writer wants to emphasize the aim of being visible or seen by others. Because of its formal and somewhat old-fashioned character, it is most often encountered in dictionaries, language descriptions, or stylistic prose rather than in casual conversation.

Relation to related forms: Näkyäkseen has a close counterpart in other verbs with the same purposive third-infinitive pattern, such as näkeäkseen (to see in order to) or similar forms for different roots. These constructions share the function of encoding purpose within non-finite clauses and are part of Finnish’s broad system for expressing intention in non-finite verb forms.