Odottamasta

Odottamasta is a Finnish non-finite verbal form derived from the verb odottaa, meaning to wait. It functions as a verbal noun or as part of non-finite clauses that express the act or process of waiting, often with a sense of waiting for something or someone. The form is built with the suffix -masta, placing it in the family of Finnish verbal nouns formed with -ma/-mä, and it participates in dependent clauses by taking appropriate case endings.

In usage, odottamasta can introduce subordinate non-finite clauses that describe circumstance, time, or purpose related to the main action. It is commonly found in more formal or literary Finnish, as well as in instructional or descriptive texts where the act of waiting is foregrounded. The construction allows speakers to compress information about simultaneous or background activity without introducing a new finite verb.

Relation to other forms: odottamasta is related to the basic infinitive odottaa (to wait) and to the gerund-like noun odottaminen (the act of waiting). The -masta form can be inflected to align with the syntactic needs of a sentence, and it often appears alongside other noun or pronoun elements to indicate the object or focus of waiting.

Etymology: odottamasta is formed from the verb odottaa with the verbal noun suffix -masta, a derivational path common to many Finnish verbs expressing ongoing or potential action.

See also: Finnish grammar, Verbal noun, Non-finite verb forms, Odottaa, Odottaminen.