Rakennumisena

Rakennumisena is a Finnish grammatical form, specifically the essive case of the noun rakennuminen, which means construction or the act of building. The essive form conveys a temporary state or role and can be translated roughly as “as construction” or “in the form of construction.” It is mainly found in formal or technical language, such as planning documents, academic texts, or architectural discourse, rather than in everyday speech.

Formation and usage

The base noun is rakennuminen (the act of building). By adding the essive suffix -na/-nä, it becomes rakennumisena. It is typically used with verbs like olla (to be) or toimia (to function) to denote role or state, for example in expressions such as “Hanke voidaan nähdä rakennumisena kaupungin infrastruktuurin kehittämisessä.” or “Rakennumisena tämä suunnitelma korostaa kestävää rakentamista.” In practice, rakennumisena appears when speakers want to discuss building as a process or function rather than as a physical structure.

Relation to related forms

Rakennumisena is distinct from rakennuksena, which means “as a building” and refers to a physical built object rather than the act or process of building. The essive form is part of Finnish grammar’s broader system of case forms used to express temporary states, roles, or functions.

See also

Essive case, Finnish grammar, rakennus (building), rakennuminen (construction process).