Rakennettaessa

Rakennettaessa is a non-finite verb form in Finnish derived from the verb rakentaa, meaning “to build.” It is used to indicate that something happens during the process of constructing or while a building or structure is being made. The form functions as a participial clause, often translating to “in the process of constructing,” “while constructing,” or “during construction” in English. It is most commonly found in formal or technical texts.

Grammatically, rakennettaessa is a passive present participial form that combines the notion of ongoing action with a state described in the inessive case, effectively marking a time context for the main clause. It is a subordinate, non-finite form and does not explicitly state the agent performing the action. This makes it useful for concise, objective statements in instructions, regulations, and professional writing.

Usage considerations include its level of formality and its tendency to replace finite clauses with an explicit subject. It can be contrasted with kun rakennetaan (when building), which uses a finite verb form and a different syntactic emphasis. In many cases, rakennettaessa is preferred in technical documentation or legal texts for its neutral tone and precise temporal reference.

Example sentences:

- Rakennettaessa taloa on kiinnitettävä huomiota rakenteiden kestävyyteen.

- Rakennettaessa käytetään ympäristöystävällisiä materiaaleja ja turvallisuussäädöksiä.

Related terms include rakennus (building), rakentaminen (construction), and rakennettava (to be built). The participial form hyvän käytön varmistamiseksi kannattaa hallita yhdessä muiden rakennetta koskevien ilmaisujen kanssa.