Puolustautumaan

Puolustautumaan is a Finnish verb form meaning to defend oneself or to mount a self-defence. The word is based on the verb puolustautua (to defend oneself) and uses the infinitive suffix -maan, which in Finnish expresses purpose, intention, or the act of undertaking the described action. As a non-finite form, puolustautumaan can be used to talk about the act in a general or future-oriented sense, often in combination with other verbs that convey preparation or intention.

In usage, puolustautumaan denotes actions taken by a person or group to protect themselves from harm, attack, or criticism. It is common in personal, legal, political, and rhetorical contexts. The form is typically found in phrases that describe preparing to defend oneself or describing the act itself as part of a broader statement, such as preparing to respond to accusations or defending one’s rights in a discussion or court.

Grammatically, puolustautumaan is the -maan infinitive of puolustautua. The corresponding finite forms are puolustautuu (present), puolustautui (past), and related mood forms. In many sentences, the infinitive phrase functions as a component of a larger predicate, often linked to verbs of preparation or intention like valmistautua (to prepare) or aikoa (to intend).

Examples:

- Hän valmistautui puolustautumaan syytöksiä vastaan.

- Kansalaiset voivat puolustautumaan itselleen tärkeiden oikeuksiensa edessä.

- Puolustautuminen on osa oikeudenkäyntiä.

Etymology: the term builds on the noun puolustus (defense) with the reflexive/infinitive formation added to express the act of defending oneself.