underkändes

Underkändes is the past passive form of the Swedish verb underkänna. It denotes that something was deemed unacceptable, rejected, or not meeting required standards by a competent authority or evaluator. The expression is common in formal and administrative contexts, such as education, employment, applications, inspections, and quality control. For example, a test or examination can be described as underkändes, or an application can be said to have been underkändes if it was rejected.

Usage and contexts

The term describes outcomes decided by evaluators, officials, or bodies with the authority to approve or reject. It often refers to criteria that were not met or documentation that was incomplete. Examples include provet underkändes av läraren (the exam was failed by the teacher) and Ansökan underkändes på grund av ofullständiga uppgifter (the application was rejected due to incomplete information). The passive voice emphasizes the decision rather than who made it.

Morphology and related forms

Underkänna is a transitive verb. Its present passive is underkännas, and the past passive is underkändes. The past participle is underkänd, used adjectivally as in en underkänd ansökan (a rejected application). The active past forms include underkände, used when describing who rejected or deemed unfit.

Etymology

The word combines under- (a prefix indicating negation or opposition) with känna (to know or acknowledge). The sense evolves toward deeming something unfit or unacceptable.

See also

underkänna, underkännande, underkänd, avslag.