Perustellessaan

Perustellessaan is a Finnish non-finite verb form derived from perustella, meaning to justify or to base on. It is an adverbial participle (converb) used to express that the action of basing or justifying something occurs at the same time as the action in the main clause. The form is third-person singular and typically refers to the subject of the main clause. In translation it corresponds to “while justifying” or “in basing [one’s argument] on.”

Usage and function: The form is common in formal or written Finnish, where a subordinate clause is linked without a finite verb. It can express manner or cause, indicating that the justification accompanies the principal action. Example: Perustellessaan kantansa, hän esitti tilastoja. Translation: While justifying his stance, he presented statistics. The adverbial participle reflects concurrent action and often implies a reason or method for the main action.

Examples and nuance: Perustellessaan väitteensä, hän viittasi aiempiin tutkimuksiin. Translation: While justifying his claim, he referred to previous studies. Perustellessaan tämän päätöksen, hän huomautti riskit. Translation: In justifying this decision, he noted the risks. The form tends to appear in written or analytical contexts and is less common in casual speech, where explicit conjunctions and finite clauses are more typical.

Relationship to other forms: Perustellessaan is part of Finnish non-finite verb forms that align with the subject of the main clause. Related forms include other adverbial participles ending in -essaan, which convey simultaneous action. It should not be confused with instrumental phrases like perustellen, which has a different nuance and usage.