Tarkoituksenilmaus

Tarkoituksenilmaus, or expression of purpose, is a grammatical concept in Finnish that describes how the intention or goal behind an action is conveyed in a sentence. It covers both finite clauses introduced by conjunctions and non-finite verb forms that signal purpose.

One common way to express purpose is with a finite subordinate clause using jotta. This clause states the aim of the main action and usually shares the same subject. For example: Hän opiskelee kovasti, jotta hän pääsee ylioppilaaksi. (He studies hard so that he can graduate.) This structure makes the purpose explicit and is typical in both speech and writing.

Another widespread method is the use of non-finite to-infinitive forms, particularly the -maan/-mään endings, to express purpose directly after the main verb. For example: Lähden kauppaan ostamaan leipää. (I’m going to the store to buy bread.) Here the infinitive form ostamaan marks the intended result of going to the store. This construction is very common in everyday Finnish and is especially frequent with verbs of movement or intention.

A key distinction is that jotta clauses are finite and can express more nuanced or explicit purposes, sometimes with different subjects, while the infinitive of purpose (ostamaan, hakemaan, etc.) tightly ties the goal to the action of the main verb and often shares the subject.

Tarkoituksenilmaus is a central feature of Finnish grammar, contributing to concise expression of reasons and goals without requiring additional words. See also Finnish grammar, non-finite verb forms, and the converb.