välttäen

Vältäen is a Finnish adverbial participle form of the verb välttää, meaning “avoiding.” It belongs to the class of non-finite verb forms that express manner or accompanying circumstance and is often described as a converb or present adverbial participle. The form is used to connect the action of the main clause with the preceding or following action, without a finite verb.

Morphology and function

Vältäen is formed from the verb stem välttä- plus the suffix -en. It functions as a non-finite clause, typically modifying the main verb or the whole sentence. This construction allows concise expression of how something is done or under what circumstances, similar to English “avoiding” or “by avoiding.” The subject of välttäen is usually the same as the subject of the main clause, but this can sometimes lead to ambiguity if the subject is not clearly shared.

Usage and style

Vältäen is most common in formal or written Finnish, including academic, technical, or legal prose, where concise, precise expression is valued. In everyday speech, speakers may prefer finite clauses or other connective forms. Care should be taken to avoid dangling participles; the implied subject should be clear in the surrounding text.

Examples

- Vältäen vaaroja, hän jatkoi matkaa. (Avoiding dangers, he continued the journey.)

- Tutkimus eteni välttäen suuria riskejä. (The study progressed while avoiding major risks.)

- Hän puhui rauhallisesti, välttäen kuulijoiden loukkaamisen. (He spoke calmly, avoiding offending the listeners.)

Related terms

The noun form is välttäminen, meaning “avoidance.” Related verb is välttää, meaning “to avoid.”