Valmistautuessa

Valmistautuessa is a Finnish non-finite verb form derived from the verb valmistautua, meaning to prepare oneself. It expresses an action that occurs at the same time as the action in the main clause, roughly translating to “while preparing” or “in preparation.”

The form is created by attaching the suffix -essa to the verb stem, yielding valmistautuessa. In most uses, the subordinate clause shares the same subject as the main clause, making the sentence read as a scene description or background action rather than a separate event.

Valmistautuessa is commonly found in narrative, descriptive, and formal Finnish. It is used to set the scene or provide background information without creating a separate finite clause. The construction is relatively formal and more frequent in written Finnish, including journalism and literature, than in casual conversation.

Examples:

- Valmistautuessa kokeeseen hän luki muistiinpanot. (While preparing for the exam, he read the notes.)

- Valmistautuessa kisaan joukkueet tarkistivat varusteet. (While preparing for the race, the teams checked the equipment.)

- Valmistautuessa matkaan hän pakkasi laukkunsa. (While preparing for the journey, he packed his bag.)

Notes:

- Valmistautuessa is a gerundial or adverbial non-finite form built with -essa. It serves as a temporal clause linked to the main clause.

- In many contexts, other constructions may be used if different subjects are intended or for stylistic variety.

See also: Finnish grammar, non-finite verb forms, gerunds, inessive forms.