Vahvistaakseen

Vahvistaakseen is a Finnish infinitive form used to express purpose, derived from the verb vahvistaa, meaning “to strengthen.” It belongs to the class of infinitives of purpose in Finnish grammar and is used to indicate the aim or result of an action. The form is created by attaching the suffix -akseen to the verb stem (vahvista- + -akseen), producing vahvistaakseen.

In use, vahvistaakseen functions as a non-finite clause that can modify the main verb or sentence, answering questions of why or for what purpose an action is performed. It often appears in formal or written Finnish, where a clear statement of intention is desired. It can be placed after a main verb or within a larger clause, and is commonly found in expressions that introduce a motive or objective.

Examples include: Hän lähti neuvotteluihin vahvistaakseen kantansa. (He went to the negotiations in order to strengthen his position.) Tietoa kerättiin vahvistaakseen väitteet. (Information was gathered to strengthen the claims.) The construction can also occur with longer expressions that frame the purpose more explicitly, such as tavoitteenaan vahvistaa uskottavuutta. (with the aim of strengthening credibility).

Notes and variants: vahvistaakseen is the standard form for the purpose infinitive of vahvistaa; it is distinct from other infinitives and from participial forms. It is typically not used in everyday casual speech where simpler phrases may suffice, but it is common in academic, legal, and formal prose. See also Finnish infinitives, and the broader topic of purpose constructions in Finnish grammar.