Any Finnish verb becomes a noun by adding -minen to its strong stem: hakea gives hakeminen (applying), oppia gives oppiminen (learning). The result declines like any noun, so it can be a subject, an object or take a case ending (oppimisesta, hakemiseen), and it keeps its own object in the genitive (työn hakeminen).
Examples
- Työn hakeminen vie aikaa.
- Looking for a job takes time.
- Pidän uuden oppimisesta.
- I enjoy learning new things.
- Etätyön tekeminen vaatii kurinalaisuutta.
- Doing remote work requires self-discipline.
- Aloitin hakemuksen kirjoittamisen eilen.
- I started writing the application yesterday.
The mistake to avoid
Mixing -minen with the third infinitive: 'menen uimaan' (I go swimming, -maan) is a verb form, while 'uiminen on hauskaa' (swimming is fun, -minen) is the noun.
Where this fits in
Työelämä ja ura, Finnish B2: Apply for a job, work with colleagues and plan a career, turning verbs into nouns with -minen.