suuntautuessaan

Suuntautuessaan is a Finnish adverbial participle formed from the verb suuntautua, meaning to orient toward or to aim toward. The form is used to introduce a subordinate non-finite clause that describes an action or state happening at the same time as the main clause, with the subject typically shared between the clauses. In English, it can be rendered as “as it oriented toward” or “while it was oriented toward,” depending on context and tense.

Morphology and construction: suuntautuessaan is built from the stem suuntautu- plus the suffix -essaan, a common ending for adverbial participles indicating simultaneous action. The form is non-finite and cannot stand alone; it functions as background information about the subject of the main clause. It is frequently accompanied by a prepositional phrase that specifies direction or target, such as kohti + a location or a broader goal.

Usage: The converb suuntautuessaan is typical in formal, descriptive, or narrative Finnish. It allows the writer to add context about direction or aim without creating a separate sentence. It can express physical direction (toward a place) or metaphorical orientation (toward an objective or idea). The form contrasts with suuntautuva (an adjective or present participle) and with finite forms of suuntautua used in main clauses.

Example: Hanke suuntautuessaan kohti uusia markkinoita sai lisää tukea. This demonstrates how the converb provides incidental information about the subject’s orientation while the main clause states the principal action.