Taistelemaan

Taistelemaan is the ma-infinitive form of the Finnish verb taistella, meaning to fight. This non-finite form is used to express the act of fighting and is especially common in purposive or periphrastic constructions. It is not a finite verb form and does not carry person or tense on its own.

Usage and function: Taistelemaan is often used after verbs of motion to indicate purpose, as in phrases such as mennään taistelemaan or hän lähti taistelemaan oikeuden puolesta, meaning “let’s go fight” and “he left to fight for justice,” respectively. The ma-infinitive can also appear in other contexts to denote the intention to perform the action of fighting, without specifying who performs it.

Grammar notes: The taitelemaan form ends with the -maan suffix, which marks the ma-infinitive category of Finnish verbs. It contrasts with the basic, perusinfinitiivi taistella (to fight) that is used for general non-finite statements and as the dictionary form. The taistelemaan/ma-infinitive is particularly salient in expressions tied to purpose or direction, often linked to adjoining verbs of movement or intention.

English rendering and nuance: In translation, taistelemaan typically conveys “to go fight,” “to fight (for something),” or “to fight in order to …,” depending on context. It emphasizes the act or intent of fighting rather than a specific, conjugated action in a sentence.

See also: taistella, taistelu, Finnish verb forms, ma-infinitiivi.