Nouns from Present Participles
In Danish, you can form a present participle by adding -ende to a verb, similar to the English "-ing". These participles are frequently used as nouns to describe a person or a group of people performing that action.
When used as nouns, these words are entirely invariable. The noun itself never changes form, regardless of whether it is singular, plural, definite, or indefinite. You simply change the article before it.
For example, from at gå (to walk) and at køre (to drive), we get gående (pedestrian) and kørende (motorist):
- en gående (a pedestrian)
- den gående (the pedestrian)
- de gående (the pedestrians)
Commuters and Travelers
Because the noun itself never changes, you must rely entirely on articles (en, den, de) or context to determine its number and definiteness. This pattern is incredibly common for describing groups navigating city infrastructure, such as rejsende (traveler) and pendlende (commuter).
Students and Passers-by
Some of the most everyday nouns in Danish are formed this way. A student is en studerende (literally "a studying one"), and a passer-by is en forbipasserende.
Notice how the noun stays exactly the same whether it refers to a single specific person or a larger group.