Sopeutumaan

Sopeutumaan is the third infinitive form of the Finnish verb sopeutua and denotes the act or process of adapting to a situation, environment, or set of conditions. The form is created by adding the suffix -maan/-mään to the verb stem, here sopeutu- + maan = sopeutumaan.

Usage in Finnish is protean and commonly occurs in non-finite clauses after certain verbs such as oppia (to learn), yrittää (to try), or pyrkiä (to strive). It commonly expresses the aim, process, or potential of adapting rather than a completed adaptation. Examples include: Hän oppi sopeutumaan uuteen ympäristöön (He learned to adapt to the new environment); Yritys pyrkii sopeutumaan muuttuviin markkinoihin (The company aims to adapt to changing markets); Tavoitteena on sopeutumaan paremmin tiimiin (The aim is to adapt better to the team).

In meaning, sopeutumaan is closely related to sopeutuminen (adaptation) and sopeutuvuus (adaptability). The non-finite form contrasts with the basic infinitive sopeutua, which is used in finite clauses and other syntactic structures. Sopeutumaan often conveys ongoing or prospective adaptation and is common in discussions of integration, work, education, migration, and changing environments.

See also: sopeutua, sopeutuminen, sopeutuvuus, sopeutumisprosessi.