Vaatimalla

Vaatimalla is a Finnish adverbial participle form derived from the verb vaatia, meaning to demand or to require. The -malla (or -mällä) suffix creates a meaning equivalent to “by doing” or “by making” in English, allowing the verb to express the manner or means by which another action occurs. As with other -malla forms, vaatima is primarily used to link clauses and to indicate how something is achieved or how an action is performed.

In use, vaatimalla functions as an adverbial modifier within a sentence. It can indicate the instrument or method used to obtain a result, often replacing a subordinate clause with a concise participial phrase. The form is common in formal, argumentative, and political language, but it appears in everyday Finnish as well. Since it conveys a specific means—demanding something—it can emphasize agency and motivation in an action.

Examples:

- Vaatimalla parempaa palkkaa työntekijät järjestäytyivät ja lopulta saivat neuvottelupöydän. (By demanding higher wages, the workers organized and ultimately secured a seat at the negotiation table.)

- Kansalaiset vaikuttivat päätöksiin vaatimalla lisätietoja. (Citizens influenced decisions by demanding more information.)

- Hanketta on edistetty vaatimalla tiukempia ympäristöstandardeja. (The project has been promoted by demanding stricter environmental standards.)

Etymology and related forms: The form comes from vaatia plus the -malla suffix, part of a broader set of adverbial participles such as kirjoittamalla (by writing) and kysymällä (by asking). These forms provide a concise way to express means or method in Finnish.