erfolgte

Erfolgte is the simple past tense (Präteritum) form of the German verb erfolgen, which means to occur, take place, or follow in sequence. The form signals that an event or action happened in the past and is most commonly found in formal or written contexts such as reports, historical narratives, and official statements.

Example: Nach dem Antrag erfolgte eine Prüfung.

Etymology and nuance: The prefix er- adds a sense of completion or coming into being, and erfolgen historically developed to mean “to occur” rather than simply “to follow.” The Präteritum form erfolgte is standard in narrative past tense, while modern German often uses Perfekt in spoken and journalistic language.

Usage notes: In everyday speech, speakers more often use Perfekt forms like ist erfolgt rather than Präteritum, though erfolgte remains correct and common in formal writing.

See also: folgen, Erfolg (noun).