The Present Participle (-ende)
In Danish, you can turn a verb into an active adjective to describe an ongoing state or first impression. This is the equivalent of the English "-ing" ending used in words like "charming" or "smiling".
To form the present participle, add -ende to the stem of the verb. Since most Danish infinitives already end in -e, you usually just add -nde to the infinitive.
| The smiling boy has a charming look. | Den smilende dreng har et charmerende blik. |
| The doctor speaks with a calming voice. | Lægen taler med en beroligende stemme. |
One Form for Everything
Regular Danish adjectives change their endings depending on the gender (en or et) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they describe. Present participles are wonderfully simple: they never change form. They will always end in -ende, no matter what noun they describe.
| The price is very attractive. | Prisen er meget tiltrækkende. |
| The teacher has an impressive voice. | Læreren har en imponerende stemme. |
| The idea is scary, but it is also attractive. | Ideen er skræmmende, men den er også tiltrækkende. |
Describing Actions
You can also use present participles as adverbs to describe how another action is happening. They are very commonly paired with verbs of motion, such as komme (to come), to show two actions happening at the same time.
| The crying girl comes running into the room. | Den grædende pige kommer løbende ind i værelset. |