verbB1
Presens partisipp (-ende form)
[Present Participle (-ende form)]The present participle is formed by adding -ende to the verb infinitive (e.g. å smile → smilende, å løpe → løpende). It is invariable (never inflects for gender or number) and functions as an adjective or an adverb of manner.
1. Formation and Invariance
Attach '-ende' to the infinitive. The resulting word form remains identical across all genders and plural:
Infinitive
å smile(to smile)
Present Participle
smilende
Example with Noun (with translation)
et smilende barn / tre smilende barn(a smiling child / three smiling children)
Infinitive
å leke(to play)
Present Participle
lekende
Example with Noun (with translation)
lekende hunder i parken(playful / playing dogs in the park)
Infinitive
å bo(to live / reside)
Present Participle
boende
Example with Noun (with translation)
personer boende i Norge(persons residing in Norway)
Infinitive
å brenne(to burn)
Present Participle
brennende
Example with Noun (with translation)
et brennende lys / et brennende ønske(a burning candle / a burning desire)
| Infinitive | Present Participle | Example with Noun (with translation) |
|---|---|---|
å smileto smile | smilende | et smilende barn / tre smilende barna smiling child / three smiling children |
å leketo play | lekende | lekende hunder i parkenplayful / playing dogs in the park |
å boto live / reside | boende | personer boende i Norgepersons residing in Norway |
å brenneto burn | brennende | et brennende lys / et brennende ønskea burning candle / a burning desire |
2. Usage as Adverb of Manner and Motion
When following verbs of motion or posture ('komme', 'gå', 'stå', 'løpe'), it describes how the action is carried out:
Examples:
Han kom løpende bort til oss.He came running over to us.
De satt leende ved bordet.They sat laughing at the table.
Hun ble stående utenfor døra.She remained standing outside the door.
Huset var skinnende rent. (forsterkende gradsadverb)The house was sparkling clean.
En mann oppførte seg truende på kontoret.A man behaved threateningly at the office.
Han nikket beroligende til barnet med en mild, beroligende stemme.He nodded reassuringly to the child with a gentle, calming voice.
Contrast: Present participle (-ende) is ACTIVE and ongoing ('en kokende kjele' = boiling kettle). Past participle (-t) is PASSIVE or completed ('kokt egg' = boiled egg).
3. Constructions with 'bli' and 'komme' (Two-Verb Syntax Rule)
The present participle enters key syntactic patterns denoting continued posture or mode of motion:
A. 'Bli' + Posture Verb for Continued State:
Bøkene ble liggende på bordet fordi jeg glemte å rydde.The books were left lying on the table because I forgot to tidy up.
Bare bli sittende, for jeg kommer snart tilbake!Just stay seated, I'll be right back!
B. ⚠️ Two-Verb Rule: The Second Verb Remains in Infinitive!
When a 'bli + participle' pattern is extended with another verb coordinated by 'og', that second verb MUST be in the infinitive:
Han ble stående og tenke på det hun hadde sagt. ('tenke' står i infinitiv)He remained standing, thinking about what she had said. ('tenke' is infinitive)
Sammenlign uten partisipp: Hun sto lenge og tenkte på det han hadde sagt. (begge i preteritum)Compare without participle: She stood for a long time thinking about what he said.
C. 'Komme' + Present Participle:
Et vogntog kom kjørende i motgående felt.A semi-truck came driving in the oncoming lane.
Han kom løpende og fortalte at det hadde skjedd en ulykke.He came running and reported that an accident had happened.