Toipuakseen

Toipuakseen ismin Finnish non-finite verb form derived from the verb toipua, meaning to recover or come to. The form belongs to the third infinitive (kolmas infinitivi) and is created by attaching the suffix -akseen to the verb stem. It functions primarily to express purpose or intent, similar to the English “in order to” or “so as to.”

In usage, toipuakseen is typically found in more formal or written Finnish, and it is less common in everyday speech. It can introduce a non-finite clause that indicates the reason or aim of another action. For example: Hän meni lepäämään toipuakseen nopeasti, which translates as “He went to rest in order to recover quickly,” or Lääkkeet määrättiin toipakseen entisestään, meaning “The medications were prescribed to help him recover further.”

Grammatically, toipuakseen contrasts with the basic short infinitive toipua and with other non-finite forms by signaling purpose rather than merely describing an action. It aligns with other verbs in the same inflection pattern, such as oppiaakseen (in order to learn) or parantuaakseen (in order to improve/ heal), illustrating a broader Finnish system of non-finite purpose clauses.

The form is most often discussed in grammar descriptions of the Finnish language and appears in literary, historical, or formal administrative texts. In modern daily language, speakers may instead use conjunctions like jotta or taivuttaa the sentence toward a purpose without utilizing the third infinitive. See also toipuminen and the broader concept of kolmas infinitivi.