fortführen

Fortführen is a German verb meaning to continue, carry on, or extend an action or sequence that has already begun. It is used to describe resuming or prolonging activities, discussions, investigations, or projects, often in formal or administrative contexts.

Etymology and usage notes: Fortführen combines fort- meaning onward or forward with führen, to lead. The sense is to lead something forward from its current point. The term is common in written language, especially in reports, minutes, and official communication.

Grammar and forms: Fortführen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense the prefix is separated: ich führe fort, du führst fort, er führt fort, wir führen fort, ihr führt fort, sie führen fort. The past participle is fortgeführt, and the auxiliary used is haben (e.g., Die Initiative ist fortgeführt worden). The simple past is formed as führte fort (e.g., Wir führten das Projekt fort).

Typical contexts: Fortführen is used for continuing a begun process, study, discussion, or workflow. Examples include: eine Sitzung fortführen (to continue a meeting), das Projekt fortführen (to carry the project forward), eine Debatte fortführen (to pursue a debate).

Relation to related verbs: Fortführen is close to weiterführen and fortsetzen. Weiterführen and fortsetzen are often interchangeable, though they can carry subtly different nuances: fortführen emphasizes continuation from the current point, while fortsetzen can imply resumption after a pause; weiterführen is a broader term that can also suggest extending along a path or line.

See also: weiterführen, fortsetzen.