Besvarende

Besvarende is a grammatical term used in Danish and Norwegian to describe the present participle form of the verb besvare, meaning to answer or to respond. As an adjective, besvarende translates roughly to “answering” or “responding” and can modify nouns to convey that something is performing or characterized by the act of answering.

Morphology and usage

Besvarende is formed with the present participle suffix -ende applied to the verb stem besvar-. In Scandinavian grammar it can function attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb). The form is typically used to describe actions, processes, or agents involved in giving answers or responses. The corresponding past participle is besvart, used to indicate that an answer has already been given.

Relation to other forms

Besvare is the verb meaning “to answer.” The present participle besvarende contrasts with besvart (answered) and svar (answer/response). The suffix -ende is a common way to form present participles in Danish and Norwegian, parallel to similar formations in other Germanic languages.

Contexts and nuances

Besvarende is more likely to appear in descriptive or formal contexts, such as discussions of communication, procedures, or systems that provide responses. It can describe a person who answers, a response process, or an answering function within an organizational or informational setting.

Etymology

The word derives from the verb besvare, with the present participle suffix -ende. Its development parallels typical participial constructions in Danish and Norwegian, influenced by Old Norse roots for the verb meaning.

See also

Besvare, svar, present participle, Norwegian grammar, Danish grammar.