The participles may be called verbal adjectives, just as the infinitives
are verbal substantives. But, as has already been observed, there
is no clear distinction between adjectives and substantives in the
Finnish language, and the participles are used substantively in many
constructions, just as the third infinitive is used adjectively. They
sometimes lose all temporal signification and become mere adjectives, as
=oppinut=, _learned_; =väsynyt=, _tired_; =mädännyt=, _rotten_.
When used with a verbal meaning the present participles (part. I)
indicate an action beginning or continuing, and the past participles
(part. II) an action which is completed. The temporal signification is
not very marked. It is noticeable that the passive participles have two
distinct meanings, one impersonal like the rest of the so-called passive
verb, the other distinctly passive.