Valmistaessa

Valmistaessa is a Finnish non-finite clause form derived from the verb valmistaa, meaning to prepare. It expresses that an action takes place during the act of preparing something, and can be translated into English as "while preparing" or "in preparing."

Grammatically, valmistaessa is a circumstantial present participle. It introduces a subordinate clause that provides context for the main clause and indicates simultaneity of actions. The subject of the subordinate clause is usually the same as the subject of the main clause, though it can be implied when clear from context. The form is commonly set off by a comma when it appears at the beginning of a sentence.

Formation and usage notes: the form is built from the stem valmista- plus the present participle suffix -essa, following the typical Finnish pattern for present active participles, as in kirjoittaessa "while writing." Valmistaessa is most frequent in written Finnish, including descriptive prose, instructional texts, and recipe instructions. In everyday speech, speakers may opt for simpler constructions such as using kun or a separate clause to express the same idea.

Examples:

- Valmistaessa ruokaa hän muisti lisätä suolaa. (While preparing the food, he remembered to add salt.)

- Valmistaessa kahvia hän valitsi tuoreet pavut. (While preparing the coffee, he chose fresh beans.)

- Valmistaessa voileipää tiimi koordinoi tehtävät. (While preparing the sandwich, the team coordinated the tasks.)

Related terms include valmistaminen (the act of preparing) and valmiste (a prepared item).