Voortduuren

Voortduuren is a Dutch verb meaning to continue, persist, or endure over time. It describes processes, events, or conditions that keep going beyond a given point and suggests ongoing duration rather than a single moment.

Etymology and usage: The verb combines the prefix voort- (forward, onward) with duren (to last). It is generally intransitive. In everyday use, the present tense is commonly expressed as duur(t) voort with the natural word order, as in het project duurt voort (the project continues). The infinitive form is voortduuren.

Tenses and forms: The past tense can be formed as duurde voort or voortduurde, depending on style. The perfect tense is typically as has voortgeduurd, for example Het heeft voortgeduurd (it has continued). The construction aligns with other Dutch intransitive last-verb patterns and is less often used with a direct object.

Examples and nuance: Examples include De onderhandelingen duren voort ondanks de tegenslagen (The negotiations continue in spite of setbacks) and Het conflict heeft voortgeduurd sinds april (The conflict has persisted since April). Voortduuren emphasizes sustained continuation over time, often implying endurance through obstacles, and is somewhat more formal or descriptive than simply duren or voortgaan.

Related terms and contrasts: Voortduuren is related to duren (to last), voortgaan (to proceed), and voortgaand/voortdurend (continuous). It is typically chosen when the emphasis is on the persistence of a process or state rather than a brief or isolated action.

See also: duren, voortgaan, voortdurend.