perustaen

Perustaen is a non-finite verb form in Finnish derived from perustaa, meaning to establish or found. It functions as an adverbial participle that expresses means or method, typically translating to “by establishing” or “by founding” in English. The form is most common in written and formal Finnish, and its use is less frequent in casual speech.

In grammar, perustaen is used to relate the action of establishing to a main clause, with the subject usually shared between the two parts. The construction often appears before the main clause and is separated by a comma, matching the way adverbial participles are used to add information about how something is done. The meaning can be one of process, method, or cause, depending on context.

Perustaen has close counterparts in related non-finite forms. For example, perustuen is the present participle form derived from perustua and is used to indicate basis or foundation, as in “perustuen todisteisiin” (based on the evidence). Other non-finite forms from perustaa convey related nuances, such as ongoing or completed actions, but perustaen specifically marks the act of establishing as the means.

Common contexts for perustaen include formal writing, historical summaries, policy documents, and journalism where succinctly stated means or methods are needed. In everyday speech, speakers might opt for more straightforward constructions such as clauses with finite verbs to convey the same idea.

See also: Finnish grammar, non-finite verb forms, lauseenvastike.