valittaessa

Valittaessa is a non-finite verb form in Finnish derived from the verb valittaa, meaning to complain. It is an adverbial participle that expresses time or condition, roughly translated as “while complaining” or “on complaint.” It is primarily used to introduce subordinate clauses that describe circumstances under which another action occurs. The form is common in formal, legal, and administrative Finnish, and can also appear in descriptive prose to set conditions.

Morphology and function: Valittaessa is formed from the stem valitta- with the suffix -essa, creating a participial phrase. This phrase behaves like a verb clause that can modify the main clause or stand as a circumstance clause. In texts it often appears to specify regulatory or procedural conditions that apply when a complaint is made.

Usage: The construction signals that something follows from or depends on the act of complaining. It is more prevalent in official documents or normative writing than in everyday speech, where simpler verb forms are usually preferred. It can link to rules, procedures, or requirements that come into effect when a complaint is filed or voiced.

Example: Valittaessa asiasta on toimitettava kirjallinen valitus määräaikaan mennessä. This means that when a complaint about the matter is made, a written complaint must be submitted within the deadline.

See also: valittaa, valitus, Finnish participial constructions, Finnish grammar.