How to say the "ing" form in Finnish

Sometimes people ask me how to say the English -ing form in Finnish. I came up with these examples of reading:

1. Indicative verb form with a partitive object

• Luen hyvää kirjaa. - I'm reading a good book.

2. MA infinitive (inessive, elative, adessive or abessive)

• Olin kirjastossa lukemassa. - I was in the library reading. 
• Milloin tulet lukemasta? - When will you come from reading? 
• Voit oppia lisää lukemalla. - You can learn more by reading.
• En voi olla lukematta tätä kirjaa! - I can't be without reading this book!

3. MINEN form

• Lukeminen on hauskaa.  - Reading is fun. (Read about describing things in Finnish.)

4. VA participle

• Kuka tuo kirjaa lukeva mies on? - Who is that man reading a book?
• Näin jonkun lukevan tuota kirjaa eilen. - I saw someone reading that book yesterday.  You can also say Näin, että joku luki tuota kirjaa eilen. (Here's the referative construction for grammar lovers!)

5. E-infinitive instuctive

• Lapsi juoksi itkien kotiin. - A child ran home crying.

6. Essive

• Istuin väsyneenä bussissa. - I sat on the bus feeling tired. 

Lue lisää: How to say 'for' in Finnish

About the author of Random Finnish Lesson: 

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I am a professional Finnish teacher who gives private online lessons and simplifies books into easy Finnish. Follow this blog, if you want to be the first one to know when I post something new.  If you want to subscribe to my newsletter, you can do it here.