Learn Danish: Jeg vil gerne undgå en tidsrøvende konflikt. - I would like to avoid a time-consuming conflict.

It is an example of object incorporation in a present participle. It combines the noun tid (time) and the present participle of at røve (to rob or steal), which is røvende. Together, they form a compound adjective meaning time-robbing or time-consuming.

Why is there an -s- in the middle of tidsrøvende?

The -s- acts as a linking consonant (bindes) that frequently glues Danish words together in compounds. When the object tid is incorporated into the participle røvende, this linking -s- makes the pronunciation transition between the two words smoother.

If the sentence were about multiple conflicts, would tidsrøvende change to match the plural noun?

No, it would not. Present participles ending in -ende used as adjectives are indeclinable in Danish. This means tidsrøvende stays exactly the same whether it describes a singular common gender noun (en konflikt), a neuter noun (et projekt), or a plural noun (konflikter).

Could I express the exact same idea without using the incorporated object form?

Yes! If you prefer not to use the compound participle tidsrøvende, you can use a relative clause instead. You could say: Jeg vil gerne undgå en konflikt, der røver tid (I would like to avoid a conflict that consumes time). Object incorporation simply makes the sentence more compact and formal.