Tutkiessaan

Tutkiessaan is a Finnish non-finite verb form derived from the verb tutkia, meaning to investigate or study. It is an adverbial or converb form used to express a subordinate action that occurs simultaneously with the action in the main clause. The form indicates that the subject of the subordinate action is the same as the subject of the main clause.

As a present-active adverbial participle, tutkiessaan typically translates to “while investigating” or “in investigating.” It allows the writer to add background information without repeating the subject, giving a concise, connected sense to the sentence. The default assumption is that the subject of the participle matches the subject of the main clause.

Usage and examples:

- Tutkiessaan asiakirjoja hän löysi virheen. — While examining the documents, he found a mistake.

- The form is common in written Finnish, especially in narrative or formal prose, and is often set off by a comma from the main clause.

Notes:

- Tutkiessaan refers to a continuous or in-progress action within the subordinate clause and is tied to the main clause’s subject. If a different subject is needed, the sentence is usually restructured rather than changed to a different participle form.

- Finnish uses various adverbial participles with different stems to express related temporal or causal relationships; tutkiessaan is the pattern for the verb tutkia in this simultaneous-action sense.