Suljettaessa

Suljettaessa is a Finnish adverbial participle form that expresses a temporal or conditional clause. It generally translates to “when [something] is closed” or “upon closing” and is used to introduce subordinate clauses in which the action of closing is the setting or condition for the main clause. The form is common in formal, technical, and instructional Finnish, and may appear in manuals, safety notes, and legal texts.

Linguistically, suljettaessa is a non-finite verb form built from the verb sulkea (to close) with the suffix -ttaessa, which creates a clause of time or condition. It functions similarly to other -ttaessa forms in Finnish, such as avattaessa “when opened” or noudattaessa “while following.” The construction is not typically used in everyday speech, where speakers are more likely to use conjunctions like kun or siltä kannalta, or the finite verb forms in main clauses.

Usage and style notes: suljettaessa conveys a precise, sometimes technical nuance. It allows compact, process-oriented statements in procedures and safety instructions, contributing to a formal tone. In more colloquial contexts, speakers may replace it with full clauses using kun suljetaan or kun se suljetaan, which are clearer for general audiences. See also other adverbial participles in Finnish, such as avattaessa, noudattaessa, and toteutuessa, which similarly express time or condition in written Finnish.

Example: Esimerkki: Säiliö suljettaessa on varmistettava tiivisteiden kunnossa. Translation: When the tank is closed, the condition of the seals must be checked.