vaihtumaan

Vaihtumaan is the infinitive form of the Finnish verb vaihtua. Vaihtua means to change, become different, or be replaced, referring to a process of transformation, substitution, or alteration of state. Vaihtumaan, as the -maan infinitive, is used to express a change that is in progress or that is expected to occur, and it appears in various syntactic constructions to indicate turning toward a new state.

In Finnish grammar, vaihtua is intransitive, meaning the subject undergoes the change, while the transitive counterpart vaihtaa means to exchange or to change something deliberately. The infinitive vaihtumaan is thus often found in contexts that describe ongoing or prospective change rather than a simple, punctual replacement.

Usage and nuance: Vaihtumaan typically occurs in clauses that describe evolving conditions, transformations in nature, or shifts in status, behavior, or circumstances. It is commonly combined with auxiliary verbs such as alkaa (to begin) or tulla (to come to) to convey the onset of change, and it can appear in more formal or literary language to emphasize a process rather than a completed result.

Relation to related forms: Related noun forms include vaihto (exchange, substitution) and vaihtaminen (the act of changing). The verb's root is tied to vaihtaa, which covers the broader idea of changing or exchanging, with vaihtua/vaihtua focusing on the state transition itself.

See also: vaihtua, vaihtaa, vaihto, vaihtaminen, muuttaa, muuttua.