ratkaisemaan

Ratkaisemaan is a Finnish non-finite form of the verb ratkaista, typically described as the first infinitive (the -maan/-mään form). It conveys the sense of “to solve” or “to determine” and is used to express purpose or intention, often in subordinate clauses where the action of the infinitive serves as the goal of the main verb. The form is created by adding the suffix -maan to the verb stem, with vowel harmony guiding the exact shape; for ratkaista the result is ratkaisemaan. It contrasts with the basic infinitive ratkaista, which is used in different syntactic contexts.

In practice, ratkaisemaan appears in sentences that express aim or planned action. For example, in a sentence such as “Pyrimme ratkaisemaan tämän ongelman,” the meaning is “We aim to solve this problem.” The form can also appear in other constructions where the action of solving or determining is the intended content of the statement, though the exact usage depends on the controlling finite verb and the overall sentence structure. Like other Finnish infinitives, ratkaisemaan does not carry person or number on its own; these are determined by the surrounding finite verb.

Etymology: ratkaisemaan is built from the verb ratkaista (“to solve”/“to determine”) plus the -maan suffix, forming a non-finite form used to denote purpose or content of intention.

See also: Finnish grammar, Finnish infinitives, ratkaista.