Sumutettaessa

Sumutettaessa is a Finnish adverbial participle formed from the verb sumuttaa, meaning to spray or nebulize. The form expresses a concurrent or conditional action, roughly translating to “while spraying” or “in the act of spraying.” It is predominantly used in formal, technical, or instructional prose, such as manuals, labels, and safety notices.

Formation and function: The participial suffix -ttaessa attaches to the verb stem sumut-, producing sumutettaessa. The resulting clause typically accompanies a main clause to indicate the conditions or circumstances under which the described action occurs. In this way, sumutettaessa helps to connect procedural steps with safety or methodological notes.

Usage and contexts: Sumutettaessa is common in agricultural and horticultural contexts, as well as in chemical handling instructions, where it is important to specify conditions during spraying operations. It often introduces precautionary or regulatory statements. For example: “Sumutettaessa kasvinsuojelutuotteita on noudatettava annosteluohjeita,” meaning that when applying plant protection products, dosage instructions must be followed. Another example: “Sumutettaessa tuotteita sisätiloissa on varmistettava riittävä ilmanvaihto,” indicating the need for ventilation during indoor spraying.

Relation to everyday language: The form is more typical of written, technical Finnish than of casual speech. In ordinary conversation, speakers may replace it with clauses using kun sumutetaan or sumutetaan, depending on the desired nuance.

See also: other Finnish adverbial participles formed with -ttaessa, used to express simultaneous or conditional actions in procedural text.