tutkiakseen

Tutkiakseen is the second infinitive form of the Finnish verb tutkia, meaning to investigate or study. The second infinitive, or infinitivi II, is a grammatical form used to express purpose or intention and is commonly found in formal or written Finnish. It conveys what action is undertaken in order to achieve a specified result, similar to the English construction “in order to …” or “to ….”

Formation and usage: The form is built from the verb stem tutki- followed by the ending -akseen. It typically appears in subordinate clauses that specify purpose, often in combination with verbs of movement, decision, or effort. A representative example is a phrase such as hän meni tutkiakseen tilannetta, meaning roughly “he went to investigate the situation,” i.e., with the purpose of investigating it. The infinitive II can also modify nouns or participate in extended purpose clauses in more formal writing.

Context and frequency: Tutkiakseen is most frequently encountered in written Finnish, including literary texts, scholarly writing, legal or historical documents, and polished translations. It is less common in everyday spoken Finnish, where speakers more often use subordinate clauses with conjunctions like jotta or use finite verb forms to express purpose. Its presence signals a formal or precise register and a focus on intent behind an action.

Relation to other forms: Tutkia has multiple infinitive forms, and tutkiakseen should not be confused with the basic infinitive tutkia or with participial forms. The second infinitive serves a distinct function, carrying purpose rather than tense or aspect by itself, and it typically relies on a main clause to provide the action’s context.