esikatellakseen

Esikatellakseen is a Finnish verb form described in grammar as the infinitive of purpose built with the suffix -akseen, attached to the verb esikatella. This form is used to express the intention or aim behind an action, roughly corresponding to the English expression “in order to.” It tends to appear in more formal or literary Finnish and is encountered mainly in explanations of how a sequence of actions serves a particular goal.

Etymology and morphology

The form esikatellakseen combines a verb stem derived from esikatella with the purpose-infinitive suffix -akseen. The -akseen construction is a standard way in Finnish to indicate purpose within a subordinate clause, linking the action described by the main verb to the reason or goal motivating it. Esikatellakseen, therefore, signals that the action of the main verb is performed with the aim of achieving the pre-specified purpose described by the esikatell- stem.

Usage

In contemporary Finnish, the purpose infinitive is a specialized feature that appears primarily in written language, technical prose, or historical texts. Esikatellakseen functions to clarify intention without introducing an additional finite clause. Because it is a marginal or formalized form, it is less common in everyday speech, where simpler constructions such as “jonkin vuoksi” or “in order to” phrases are more typical.

See also

Finnish grammar; infinitives of purpose in Finnish; suffix -akseen; esikatella (the base verb).

Notes

Esikatellakseen is a specialized linguistic form. Its discussion is typically confined to descriptions of Finnish morphology and syntax, rather than everyday usage.