fortgået

Fortgået is a Danish verbal participle meaning “continued” or “ongoing,” formed from the verb fortgå, which means to continue or go on. It is used to indicate that a process or action has continued up to the present or for a period in the past. Fortgået is the past participle form and is typically used with the auxiliary have to form perfect tenses, as in har fortgået — “has continued.”

Etymology and form: The word combines the prefix for- with gå, the verb “to go.” The sense of continuation arises from the idea of ongoing movement or progression. As a participle, fortgået can appear in perfect constructions, often in formal or written Danish.

Usage and nuance: In contemporary Danish, fortgået appears mainly in written or formal contexts to describe ongoing processes, events, or discussions. In many everyday contexts, speakers use present tense forms (fortgår) or other expressions for ongoing action, while fortgået emphasizes persistence over time. When used adjectivally, fortgået is less common; Danish writers more often use fortsat or en fortsat proces to convey the notion of ongoing status.

Examples:

- Projektet har fortgået i flere måneder.

- Debatten har fortgået siden mødet i går uden et endeligt resultat.

See also: Fortgå (to continue), Fortsætte (to continue).