Sytyttääkseen

Sytyttääkseen is a non-finite verb form in Finnish. It is the third infinitive of the verb sytyttää, meaning “to light” or “to ignite.” The form is used to express purpose in subordinate clauses and can be translated as “in order to light” or “to light” in English.

Formation and function: The 3rd infinitive is formed from the verb stem with the suffix -akseen, which commonly appears in forms like kirjoittaakseen or sytyttääkseen. In this way, sytyttääkseen indicates intention or purpose rather than a specific tense or subject. It is a non-finite form, so it does not conjugate for person or number.

Usage: The 3rd infinitive is typically used to express purpose in relation to a main action. Example: Hän meni hakemaan tulta sytyttääkseen nuotion. Here, sytyttääkseen nuotion means “in order to light the campfire.” The form often occurs in more formal or literary Finnish; in everyday speech, speakers may opt for other constructions to express purpose, such as käyttämällä tai jotta + verb.

Relation to other infinitives: Finnish verbs also have other infinitive forms, such as the 1st (perus) and 2nd infinitives, each serving different grammatical functions. The 3rd infinitive, especially with -akseen/-äakseen, is specifically associated with purpose clauses and can be seen in many verbs beyond sytyttää.

See also: Finnish infinitives, 3rd infinitive, -akseen forms, sytyttää.