Täsmennäviä

Täsmennäviä is a Finnish grammatical term that can be translated as "clarifying" or "specifyings." It refers to a type of subordinate clause that provides additional, essential information to clarify the meaning of a preceding main clause or a specific word within it. These clauses are crucial for disambiguation and for conveying a precise meaning.

In Finnish grammar, täsmennäviä clauses are typically introduced by conjunctions such as että (that), jotta (in order that), tai että (or that), and use of the participle. The relationship between the main clause and the täsmennäviä clause is one of dependence, where the subordinate clause cannot stand alone and its meaning is derived from the main clause.

For example, in the sentence "Tiedän, että hän tulee huomenna" (I know that he is coming tomorrow), the clause "että hän tulee huomenna" functions as a täsmennäviä, clarifying what it is that the speaker knows. Without this clause, the statement "Tiedän" would be incomplete.

Another example could be: "Hän pyysi, jotta auttaisin häntä" (He asked that I help him). Here, the "jotta auttaisin häntä" clause specifies the content of his request. The presence of täsmennäviä clauses is vital for the full comprehension of complex sentences in Finnish, ensuring that the intended meaning is clearly communicated. They contribute to the nuanced expression of thought and information within the language.