viivästyttääkseen

The Finnish word "viivästyttääkseen" is the third infinitive of the verb "viivästyttää". This grammatical form is used to express purpose, specifically "in order to delay" or "for the purpose of delaying". It combines the base verb meaning "to delay" with the "kseen" ending, which denotes an action performed by the subject of the main clause for a specific reason.

For example, in a sentence like "Hän puhui hitaasti viivästyttääkseen kokousta" (He spoke slowly in order to delay the meeting), "viivästyttääkseen" clearly indicates the purpose behind his slow speech. The verb "viivästyttää" itself is a causative form derived from "viivästyä" (to be delayed). Therefore, "viivästyttää" means to cause something to be delayed.

The third infinitive in Finnish is a versatile construction that can be translated in various ways depending on the context, but its core function is to express purpose. This form is crucial for constructing complex sentences and conveying nuanced meanings related to intentional actions and their underlying motivations. Understanding this grammatical feature is essential for comprehending Finnish sentence structure and the precise intent of the speaker or writer.