Tappamalla

Tappamalla is a Finnish non-finite verb form (a verbal adverb or adverbial participle) derived from the verb tappaa, meaning "to kill". Formed by attaching the suffix -malla/-mällä to the verb stem (tappa- → tappamalla), it typically translates into English as "by killing" or "killing" when indicating the means, manner or cause of an action.

Grammatical function

Tappamalla expresses how something is done (manner), the instrument or means by which an action is achieved, or an action contemporaneous with another. It is a non‑temporal form and does not carry tense; temporal relations are inferred from the main clause or expressed with auxiliary verbs. The corresponding negative form is tappamatta, meaning "without killing."

Examples

- Hän selvisi tappamalla pedon. (He survived by killing the beast.)

- Asia ratkaistiin tappamalla vain kaksi yksilöä. (The matter was settled by killing only two individuals.)

- Tappamalla ei voi korjata virheitä. (You cannot correct mistakes by killing.)

Related forms and notes

Tappamalla belongs to a wider class of -malla/-mällä verbal adverbs used to form expressions of means (e.g., juoksemalla "by running", kirjoittamalla "by writing"). It contrasts with other non‑finite forms such as the infinitive (tappaa), the present participle (tappava), and the past participle (tapettu). Usage can carry strong or violent connotations depending on context; as with all language referring to harm, neutral and legal phrasing is often preferred in formal writing.