pienentääksemme

Pienentääksemme is a non-finite Finnish verb form that expresses purpose, derived from the verb pienentää, meaning to reduce. It translates roughly as “in order for us to reduce” or “so that we may reduce” and is used in formal writing to indicate a targeted aim or planned action by the speakers, who are typically represented by the first-person plural (we). The form contains the linking element -kse- and the ending -mme, which marks the subject as we and signals a purposive sense.

Formation and usage

The form is built from the present infinitive stem pienentä- combined with the -kse- morpheme and the first-person plural ending -mme. It is used in subordinate clauses to introduce purpose, similar to other infinitives of purpose in Finnish. It often appears in policy statements, official reports, and academic writing where groups express collective goals or actions aimed at reducing something.

Examples

Pienentääksemme päästöjä, otimme käyttöön uusiutuvan energian lähteet. Pienentääksemme energiankulutusta, toteutamme energiatehokkuustoimenpiteitä. These examples show the form preceding the main clause to indicate the aim of reducing emissions or consumption.

Relation to other forms

Pienentääksemme is part of a broader class of infinitives of purpose in Finnish, including similar constructions with other verbs (for example sanoaksemme, tehdäksemme). These forms are characteristic of formal or technical language and are less common in casual speech.

Etymology and notes

The form combines pienentä- with the purposive -kse- infix and the -mme ending for “we.” It signals collective intent and is most readily understood in contexts involving goals, targets, or policy measures.