förstärkte

Förstärkte is the preterite (preteritum) form of the Swedish verb förstärka, meaning to strengthen or reinforce. It is used to describe a completed action in the simple past, and applies to all persons: jag förstärkte, du förstärkte, han/hon/den/det förstärkte, vi/ni/de förstärkte.

The infinitive of the verb is förstärka, and the past participle is förstärkt. The participle forms are used in compound tenses and as adjectives, for example har förstärkt (has reinforced) or muren är förstärkt (the wall is reinforced). The passive voice can also be formed with the suffix -s, as in byggnaden förstärktes (the building was reinforced).

Etymology and usage: förstärka is a compound verb built from för- (a prefix with various intensifying or directional meanings) and stärka (to strengthen). The prefixed form signals making stronger or increasing capacity. Förstärkte, as the simple past, is common in narrative and factual texts to recount actions that increased strength, capacity, or security, such as reinforcing structures, procedures, or defenses.

Syntax and notes: Förstärkte is transitive and takes a direct object (something that is strengthened). It is not typically used in noun form; the related adjective form is förstärkt, and the passive past tense often appears as förstärktes or byggnaden förstärktes depending on construction. In contemporary Swedish, særsely, the verb also appears in compound tenses with hjälpverb (har, hade).

See also: Swedish verb conjugation, past tense, past participle forms, passive voice.