tutkiessa

Tutkiessa is a Finnish adverbial participle form derived from the verb tutkia, meaning “to investigate” or “to examine.” It is used to introduce a subordinate clause that expresses simultaneous action with the main clause, roughly translating to “while examining” or “in examining.” The form is common in written Finnish, especially in descriptive, analytic, or academic prose.

In typical usage, the subject of the tutkiessa clause is understood to be the same as the subject of the main clause, although there are ways to adapt the sentence when the subjects differ. The construction allows a concise way to present background actions or steps taken during the main action without introducing an extra finite clause. It is often preferred for outlining processes, observations, or reasoning steps in a fluid, narrative style.

Examples:

- Tutkiessa asiaa hän löysi virheen. (While examining the matter, he found an error.)

- Tutkiessani näitä tuloksia huomasin epäjohdonmukaisuuksia. (While I was examining these results, I noticed inconsistencies.)

- Tutkiessaan materiaalia hän keräsi lisätietoja. (While he was examining the material, he gathered additional information.)

Related forms and notes:

- Tutkiessa, tutkiessaan, tutkiessani and similar variants reflect different subjects or grammatical persons, often using the same base idea of a concurrent action.

- The form is typically found in formal or semi-formal writing; in spoken Finnish, speakers might prefer conjunctions or finite clauses for clarity.

In summary, tutkiessa is a concise tool in Finnish for indicating that an action of investigation accompanies another action, linked through a single, fluid clause.