kohdistuessa

Kohdistuessa is a Finnish adverbial participle formed from the verb kohdistua, meaning to be aimed at or to be directed at. The form signals that something is being directed toward a target, topic, or object, and it is used to express a concurrent or conditional circumstance in a sentence. In practice, kohdistuessa is typically found in formal, written Finnish, such as analytical prose, policy texts, or academic writing, rather than in everyday speech. It can be translated roughly as “as something is directed at” or “when addressed to.”

Grammatical notes: Kohdistuessa is a non-finite, adverbial participle belonging to the -essa/-essä family. It functions as an adjunct in a sentence, signaling the manner or focus of action, and does not serve as the main predicate. The form enables the speaker to indicate focal points, targets, or objects of discussion, policy, or action.

Usage and nuance: The participle highlights what is being directed at or the object of attention in a broader statement. It is useful for describing processes, analyses, or arguments where the emphasis is on the target of targeting, criticism, or consideration. Because of its formal tone, kohdistuessa is more common in written and technical materials than in casual conversation.

Related forms: kohdistunut (past passive participle) means “directed at” and is used attributively (kohdistuneet ongelmat, the directed problems). kohdistuen and kohdistuessa are different non-finite forms that express concurrent or contextual relationships with the main clause.

Etymology: derived from kohdistua with the suffix -essa, forming an adverbial participle.