tehtäkseen

Tehtääkseen is a Finnish non-finite verb form. It represents the third infinitive form (kolmas infinitiivi) of the verb tehdä (to do) and is used to express purpose or intention. In English, it corresponds roughly to “in order to do” or “to do in order to.”

Formation and function: The third infinitive is built from the verb stem with the infix -kse- and the appropriate infinitive ending, yielding forms such as tehtääkseen, käyttääkseen, kirjoittaakseen. Tehtääkseen specifically indicates an action undertaken for a certain purpose and is often found in more formal or written styles. It can occur in subordinate clauses that explain why the main action is taken, or in constructions that describe intended results.

Usage: Tehtääkseen is most common in contexts that emphasize purpose, aim, or means. It replaces more ordinary expressions like “to do” when the speaker wishes to foreground intent. It is not typically used in casual spoken Finnish, where simpler infinitives or participial forms are favored.

Examples: One illustrative sentence is “Hän opiskelee tehdäkseen paremman lopputuloksen,” meaning “He studies in order to achieve a better result.” Another example is the use of other third infinitives in related contexts, such as kirjoittaakseen or käyttääkseen, which show the same grammatical pattern with different verbs.

Relationship to other forms: Tehtääkseen is part of the broader set of Finnish third infinitives, distinguished from the basic infinitive and other non-finite forms by its purpose-oriented function. It is often contrasted with phrases using olla + infinitive or with subordinate clauses that state intention in a more straightforward way.

See also: Finnish grammar, kolmas infinitiivi, non-finite verb forms.