ostamalla

Ostamalla is a Finnish gerund form derived from the verb ostaa, meaning “to buy.” The suffix -malla (-mällä) creates a verbal noun that denotes the act or process of performing the verb as a means. As a gerund, ostamalla expresses “by buying” or “through buying” and is used to indicate the method or means by which something is achieved. It is grammatically a non-finite form and does not inflect for person, number, or tense; it agrees with the rest of the clause rather than the subject.

Common uses include giving instructions, explaining a rationale, or describing a method in a neutral way. Example: “Ostamalla tämän tuotteen voit säästää rahaa pitkällä aikavälillä” (By buying this product you can save money in the long run). Another example: “Ostamalla useamman tuotteen samasta kaupasta saat alennuksen” (By buying several products from the same store you get a discount).

Ostamalla is closely related to ostaminen, the noun form that more directly denotes the act itself, whereas ostamalla emphasizes the means. In Finnish, several verbs form -malla/-mällä gerunds to express “by doing” constructions. The term appears in dictionaries, instruction manuals, and consumer information, and is used in both formal and informal Finnish to describe purchase-based strategies.