Tutustumalla

Tutustumalla is a Finnish non-finite verb form derived from the verb tutustua, meaning to become acquainted or to familiarize oneself. The form functions as a gerund or adessive participle and is used to express the means or method by which an action is carried out. In English, it is commonly translated as “by getting acquainted” or “through familiarization.” The construction is frequent in instructional, educational, and professional texts to describe how knowledge or competence is gained.

The form is created from the verb stem by adding the suffix -malla, yielding tutustumalla. It is used to introduce an action that explains how another action is performed. As a non-finite form, tutustumalla does not itself specify a subject or tense, but it can connect to main clauses to indicate method or approach. It often appears with nouns or noun phrases in the accusative or genitive to specify what is being familiarized with, such as practices, people, or systems.

Typical usage emphasizes process and method. Examples include: Tutustumalla uusiin käytäntöihin organisaatio voi parantaa tehokkuutta. By getting acquainted with new practices, the organization can improve efficiency. Tutustumalla asiakkaisiin yritys voi ymmärtää paremmin heidän tarpeitaan. By getting to know customers, the company can better understand their needs. Tutustumalla ohjeisiin työntekijä voi suorittaa tehtävän oikein. By following the instructions, the worker can perform the task correctly.

In summary, tutustumalla expresses the idea of learning or familiarizing oneself as a means to achieve an outcome, and it is commonly used to describe how knowledge or competence is gained in a given context.