tarvittaessa

Tarvittaessa is a Finnish adverb meaning “as needed” or “if necessary.” It expresses that a described action or condition will occur only when circumstances require it. The form is derived from the verb tarvita (to need) and functions as an adverbial marker of contingency. In practice, it is common in formal language, such as official documents, safety guidelines, contracts, and service agreements, where actions may be taken only when required.

Usage and style: Tarvittaessa typically introduces a clause describing an optional or conditional action. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence, as in “Tarvittaessa…” or mid-sentence, for example “Toimenpiteet voidaan toteuttaa tarvittaessa.” It does not inflect for person or number, remaining unchanged as “tarvittaessa.”

Examples:

- “Tarvittaessa voimme siirtää kokouksen.” — “If necessary, we can postpone the meeting.”

- “Tarvittaessa lisätietoja antaa projektipäällikkö.” — “If necessary, the project manager will provide additional information.”

- “Dokumentit toimitetaan tarvittaessa.” — “The documents will be delivered if necessary.”

Related expressions include “tarpeen mukaan” (as needed) and “jos tarvitaan” (if needed). Tarvittaessa tends to be more formal and is widely used in administrative and legal contexts to indicate that certain actions are contingent.

Notes: Tarvittaessa is considered a fixed adverb and generally does not participate in typical Finnish inflection. Its meaning relies on context, signaling a precautionary or conditional approach in procedures, guidelines, and communications.