päästäkseen

Päästäkseen is a Finnish non-finite verb form derived from the verb päästä, meaning to get out, to be able to reach, or to escape. It is the third infinitive form (kolmas infinitiivi) and is formed with the purposive suffix -kseen. This form is used to express purpose or intention in subordinate clauses, roughly translating to “in order to get out” or “to be able to get out.”

In usage, päästäkseen typically links to a main verb expressing an action whose outcome is the ability or opportunity to achieve the purpose. The subject of the infinitive clause is usually the same as the subject of the main clause, and the relationship can be expressed without a conjunction in written Finnish. A common example is Hän avasi oven päästäkseen ulos, meaning “He opened the door in order to get outside.” Another example is He halusivat päästäkseen kaupunkiin, meaning “They wanted to get to the city.”

The form is more frequent in formal or literary Finnish. In everyday speech, speakers often use simpler constructions or subordinate clauses introduced by jotta (so that) rather than relying on the non-finite third infinitive. Päästäkseen thus serves to convey purpose concisely within a single verbal phrase, without specifying a finite subject-verb structure.

Etymologically, päästäkseen reflects the verb päästä combined with the third infinitive marker -kseen, a pattern shared with other Finnish verbs in this infinitive class, such as katsoakseen (to look in order to see).