S-Verbs in the Past Tense
In Danish, several types of verbs end in -s: deponent verbs (which look passive but have an active meaning), reciprocal verbs (which describe mutual actions), and the s-passive.
When forming the past tense, we typically add -s to the standard active past tense ending. If a verb's active past tense ends in -ede, the s-verb form becomes -edes. If it ends in -te, it becomes -tes. Irregular verbs append -es or -s to their irregular past root.
For example, the deponent verb findes (to exist) builds on its irregular past tense root to become fandtes (existed).
The Past S-Passive
You have seen the s-passive used for rules and instructions in the present tense. In formal, written, or historical storytelling—like recounting medieval history—the s-passive is frequently used in the past tense. Just add -s to the active past tense form: gemte (hid) becomes the passive gemtes (was hidden).
Reciprocal Verbs
Reciprocal verbs describe an action people do together. In the past tense, mødes (to meet) becomes mødtes, and samles (to gather) becomes samledes.
S-Verbs in Context
You will encounter a mix of these forms as you read historical accounts. The deponent verb lykkes (to succeed) becomes lykkedes, and the passive byggedes (was built) comes from byggede.
Another common reciprocal verb is skændes (to argue), which becomes skændtes in the past tense. Likewise, the past s-passive for dømte (judged) is dømtes (was judged).