kulkemasta

Kulkemasta is a Finnish grammatical form derived from the verb kulkea, which means to walk or travel. In linguistic description, kulkemasta is treated as a non-finite verbal form that can function as a noun or a noun-like element in clauses, conveying the concept or action of walking rather than a specific tense or subject.

Etymology and morphology: The form combines the verb stem kulke- with the common verbal noun suffix -ma/-mä and the case/relational suffix -sta. This composition places kulkemasta among the family of -ma/-mä nominalizations in Finnish grammar, where the exact syntactic role is determined by context and accompanying words. In practice, the more general noun for the act of walking is kulkeminen; kulkemasta tends to appear in more specialized or descriptive uses.

Usage and context: Kulkemasta is far less common in everyday speech than kulkeminen, which is the standard way to refer to the activity of walking. Kulkemasta appears primarily in linguistic discussions, academic writing, or literary contexts where a variable non-finite form is needed to express nuance such as source, relation, or metaphorical association. Native speakers may opt for kulkeminen or rephrase to avoid the more technical form in casual conversation.

Relation to related terms: Related Finnish forms include kulkea (the base verb), kulkeminen (the nominalized act), and kulkija (a walker). The choice among these forms reflects the degree of formality and the exact syntactic role in a sentence.

See also: Finnish grammar, Verbal noun, Noun formation in Finnish, Non-finite verb forms.