Ständigen

Ständigen is the inflected form of the German adjective ständig when used attributively before a plural noun. It conveys the sense of being permanent, ongoing, or standing in a formal, institutional context. The most common use is to describe bodies or components that are permanently established, such as "die ständigen Ausschüsse" (standing committees) in a parliament or other organization.

In terms of grammar, adjectives following a definite article in German take the ending -en in the plural. Therefore, the attributive form before a plural noun is "ständigen" as in "die ständigen Ausschüsse." Other plural cases use the same ending: der ständigen Ausschüsse (genitive), den ständigen Ausschüssen (dative). Without a definite article, the strong declension would yield "ständige Ausschüsse" in nominative and accusative plural. Thus, "ständigen" functions as the inflected plural form of användes with a definite article and is not a separate lexical item.

Usage notes: The term is common in official or formal texts, including constitutions, parliamentary rules, and organizational charters, where it contrasts with ad hoc or temporary committees. In everyday language, one would typically use "ständig" in adverbial or adjectival form or opt for other expressions to describe permanence outside institutional contexts. The English equivalent is standing, as in standing committees or standing instructions.

In summary, ständigen is the attributive, plural-inflected form of "ständig," used to denote permanent or established entities in formal German, especially in political or organizational settings.