Tarkoitusmuodosta

Tarkoitusmuodosta is a Finnish linguistic term describing the use of the active infinitive to express purpose in a clause. In many grammars the form is referred to as the tarkoitusinfinitiivi or the purpose infinitive. The purpose form is formed with the active infinitive suffixes -maan or -mään attached to the verb stem. Examples include ostamaan, tekemään, lukemaan. This non-finite form is used after a finite verb to indicate the goal or aim of the main action, often in concise and natural sentences.

Typical usage is illustrated by sentences where the main verb indicates movement, intention, or decision, and the purpose infinitive states what is being done for that purpose. For example: Menen kauppaan ostamaan kahvia (I am going to the store to buy coffee) and Hän jäi kotiin tekemään kotitehtäviä (He stayed home to do homework). In these constructions the subject of the infinitive is normally the same as the subject of the main clause, though more complex variations exist in formal or narrative contexts.

The purpose infinitive serves as a distinct non-finite form within Finnish verb morphology. It provides a compact alternative to explicit purpose clauses and is widely used in both spoken and written Finnish. It is part of the broader category of non-finite verb forms and is often discussed alongside other infinitive types in Finnish grammar, such as the general infinitive and the conditional or potential forms.