tutkittaessa

Tutkittaessa is a non-finite verb form in Finnish, used to express simultaneous or circumstantial action in a subordinate clause. It is the adverbial participle form of the verb tutkita, meaning “to investigate” or “to examine.” The form is built with the stem tutkitta- plus the suffix -essa, and it translates roughly as “while investigating” or “in the course of investigating.”

The form is common in formal or technical Finnish, such as academic writing, reports, and legal or policy texts. It allows speakers to describe how something happens alongside another action without creating a separate finite clause. In everyday language, speakers might choose simpler constructions such as kun tutkitaan or tutkimalla, depending on the nuance they want to express.

Usage notes:

- Tutkittaessa typically introduces a subordinate clause that sets the circumstances for what is described in the main clause.

- It is often used with passive or impersonal constructions, or when the agent performing the investigation is not specified.

Examples:

- Tutkittaessa asiaa havaittiin useita epäkohtia. (While investigating the matter, several issues were found.)

- Tutkittaessa aineistoa on varmistettava sen laatua. (In examining the material, its quality must be ensured.)

Related forms include tutkimalla (by studying) and tutkittaen (less common adverbial form). Tutkittaessa remains a concise, formal option for describing concurrent investigative actions in Finnish.