pyytämällä

Pyytämällä is the fourth infinitive form of the Finnish verb pyytää, meaning “to ask” or “to request.” The form is used to express the means or method by which something is done, roughly translating to “by asking” or “through asking.” It is a formal, often written, instrumental construction in Finnish grammar.

Morphologically, pyytämällä is built by adding the suffix -malla/-mällä to the verb stem, producing a gerund-like form that functions adverbially. It does not convey tense on its own; instead it names the manner in which an action occurs and can be attached to a main clause to describe the method of achieving an outcome. The 4th infinitive is commonly found in official, instructional, or descriptive text, but can appear in broader contexts as well.

Usage notes include that pyytämällä typically denotes the means by which something happens and can appear with various main verbs. It often answers the question “how?” or “by what means?” Examples: Hän sai luvan pyytämällä sitä viranomaisilta. (He obtained the permit by asking for it from the authorities.) Ongelma ratkaistiin pyytämällä neuvoa asiantuntijoilta. (The problem was solved by asking for advice from experts.) The construction is versatile and may replace a subordinate clause in some formal styles, though in everyday speech other forms like “pyytää” or “kysyä” are more common.

In summary, pyytämällä is the Finnish fourth infinitive form of pyytää used to express action by means of asking, most often in formal or written contexts.