Vaanlause

Vaanlause is a term in Finnish grammar describing a sentence construction in which two clauses are linked by the coordinating conjunction vaan to express correction or refinement of a previous statement. The function of a vaanlause is to contrast or specify what is true instead of what was stated or implied.

In typical usage, vaan connects two independent clauses that share a common subject or that present a clear contrast. Common examples include:

- Hän ei ole lääkäri, vaan insinööri. (He is not a doctor, but an engineer.)

- Se ei ollut vanha talo, vaan uusi. (It was not an old house, but a new one.)

- En lähde ajoissa, vaan myöhästyn. (I will not leave on time, but I will be late.)

The relation expressed by vaan is often milder or more corrective than the stronger contrast signaled by mutta. Vaan generally emphasizes that the second clause provides the actual, corrected fact rather than merely presenting an opposition. It is common in written Finnish and in careful speech, especially when the speaker wants to be precise about a correction or clarification.

Punctuation typically places a comma before vaan when linking two clauses, though in some cases the comma may be omitted in faster speech. Vaan is a distinct conjunction from mutta, and while both create contrast, vaan more directly signals correction or specification of the preceding claim.

See also: Finnish conjunctions, mutta, coordination of clauses, Finnish syntax.