Työskentävä

Työskentävä is a Finnish present active participle form that is derived from the verb työskentää, meaning to work or to operate. In contemporary standard Finnish, the corresponding present active participle is työsken-televä (työskentelevä). The form työskentävä is uncommon and is generally regarded as nonstandard, archaic, or dialectal in most modern writing. When describing someone or something that is currently performing work or operating, speakers and writers typically use työskentelevä.

Etymology and formation: The word builds on työskentää (to work/operate) plus the participial suffix -vä, which yields a modifier meaning “working/operating.” The canonical present active participle follows the regular pattern ty-ö-sken-te-le-vä, while työskentävä represents a variation that does not align with standard conjugation in most references.

Usage and nuance: Because rakennetta työskentävä is not standard, it may appear in older texts, regional usage, or as a stylistic choice. In formal writing, technical contexts, or language learning materials, työsken-televä is preferred. When referring to a device or system that is currently functioning, Finnish normally uses toimiva or käynnissä oleva rather than työskentävä.

See also: työsken-televä, työskentely, työ, toimiva, käynnissä oleva.

Note: For clarity and correctness, writers should favor työsken-televä in attributive use (e.g., työskentelevä työntekijä) and reserve työskentävä for nonstandard or dialectal contexts.