Vertaamalla

Vertaamalla is a Finnish adverbial participle formed from the verb that means “to compare.” It functions roughly like the English phrase “by comparing” and is used to indicate the method or approach by which something is analyzed or described. The form is part of a larger group of -malla/-mällä participles that express manner and are common in Finnish written language, especially in analytical and explanatory prose.

Usage and function

Vertaamalla introduces a subordinate idea that explains how a conclusion or observation is reached. It typically appears at the beginning of a clause with a comma, linking it to the main statement. For example: Vertaamalla eri lähteitä saadaan kattavampi kuva. (By comparing different sources, a more comprehensive picture is obtained.) The construction can be reused with different subjects, such as Vertaamalla tuloksia voidaan tehdä johtopäätöksiä (By comparing the results, conclusions can be drawn).

Relation to other forms

Ver­taamalla is one of several adverbial participles in Finnish. It complements noun-based expressions of comparison, such as vertailu (the act of comparing) or vertailun perusteella (based on comparison). In many contexts, authors may choose alternative formulations like “vertailun mukaan” or “tutkimuksen mukaan” depending on style and register.

Usage notes

The -malla/-mällä form is particularly common in academic, scientific, and technical writing to describe methodology or procedural steps. In everyday spoken Finnish, speakers may use other phrasing and fewer participial constructions, but vertaamalla remains a standard tool for precise method specification in formal text.