Nutidsparticipium

Nutidsparticipium, or present participle, is a non-finite verb form in Danish grammar used to express ongoing or simultaneous action in relation to the main verb. It can function as an adjective describing a noun or as part of a participial phrase that adds information about manner or timing.

Formation and forms: In Danish, the typical pattern is to add the suffix -ende to the verb stem, producing forms such as løbende (running) or skrivende (writing). Some verbs have irregular or special forms, for example være yields værende. The present participle can be used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively in certain formal or fixed expressions.

Uses: As an attributive adjective, nutidsparticipium describes a noun: den løbende mand (the man who is running). It also appears in predicative or set phrases, such as værende, to indicate a state or ongoing condition in more formal or literary language (den værende konge, the current/reigning king). In adverbial use, it forms participial phrases that describe the manner or simultaneity of actions, as in Hun stod og lyttede, spekulerende på beslutningen (She stood listening, speculating about the decision).

Relation to other forms: The present participle contrasts with the past participle (datidsparticipium), which accompanies perfect tenses or passive voice, and with infinitival forms. In many Germanic languages, analogous forms exist; Danish gives -ende as the typical ending, with variations in related languages.

Examples illustrate its function in describing ongoing action or concurrent states, and its role as a descriptive or adverbial element in sentences.