puhuttaessa

Puhuttaessa is a Finnish grammatical form derived from the verb puhua (to speak). It is an adverbial or converb form used to introduce a subordinate clause that indicates background or simultaneous action, roughly meaning “when speaking,” “in speaking,” or “while speaking.” It is commonly found in formal or written Finnish and helps to present contextual information without repeating a finite verb in the subordinate clause.

Morphology and formation: Puhuttaessa is built from the passive stem of the verb and the suffix -essa, producing a present-time, adverbial construction. The form functions as a non-finite verb form that can connect to a main clause with shared subject or an understood subject. It is one of several Finnish converb forms that express time or condition without using a separate conjunction.

Usage and style: The form is typical in explanatory, descriptive, or normative writing—essays, manuals, academic texts, and official prose. It often substitutes for subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like kun or jos, especially when the focus is on the circumstance rather than on who performs the action. In everyday spoken Finnish, alternatives such as kun puhutaan or kun puhuttaessa may be preferred for clarity, but puhuttaessa remains correct in formal contexts.

Examples:

- Puhuttaessa tästä aiheesta on tärkeää huomata useat näkökulmat.

- Puhuttaessa siitä, miten järjestelmä toimii, kannattaa tarkastella kaikkia osia.

See also: Finnish grammar, converb, passive voice in Finnish, subordinate clauses.