Present Participle in -end

The Present Participle in -end

Level 6

Add -d to the infinitive: spannen → spannend (exciting), dréngen → dréngend (urgent). The result works like an adjective: e spannend Buch.

How It Works

1. How it is formed
Take the infinitive and add -d: lafen → lafend, spannen → spannend, ustrengen → ustrengend, iwwerraschen → iwwerraschend. Many of these words are listed in the dictionary as ordinary adjectives, often with their own meaning: lafend means ongoing or current.

2. Before a noun
It takes the normal adjective endings:

  • Masculine: en dréngenden Appell, and by the n-rule vum lafende Joer.
  • Feminine and plural: no ending, eng ustrengend Woch, déi dréngend Froen.
  • Neuter: no extra t, because the word already ends in d, e spannend Buch.
  • Dative: an dréngende Fäll, no deem ustrengenden Dag.

3. As an adverb
Some -end words describe how something is done: Hie schwätzt fléissend Russesch. See adjectives as adverbs.

4. Not a tense
English uses -ing for actions in progress. Luxembourgish uses the plain present or amgaang ze: Ech sinn amgaang ze kachen. The -end form is mostly found in written language and in fixed adjectives like spannend.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech liese grad e spannend Buch.

    I am reading an exciting book right now.

    Neuter: spannend takes no extra t.

  2. Gëschter gouf en dréngenden Appell un d'Ëffentlechkeet geriicht.

    Yesterday an urgent appeal was made to the public.

    Masculine -en; the n stays before a vowel.

  3. No deem ustrengenden Dag si mir doudmidd an d'Bett gefall.

    After that exhausting day we fell into bed dead tired.

  4. De Procureur wëllt sech net iwwer déi lafend Enquête äusseren.

    The prosecutor does not want to comment on the ongoing investigation.

    Lafend here means ongoing, not running.

  5. Esou Mesurë kënnen nëmmen an dréngende Fäll adoptéiert ginn.

    Such measures can only be adopted in urgent cases.

    Dative plural -en, written -e before F.

  6. Mäi Monni schwätzt a schreift fléissend Russesch.

    My uncle speaks and writes Russian fluently.

    Used as an adverb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the -end form to build an -ing tense.

    Ech sinn elo lafend.
    Ech sinn elo amgaang ze lafen.

    Luxembourgish has no tense with -end. Use the plain present or amgaang ze.

  • Adding the neuter -t to an -end word.

    Ech liese grad e spannendt Buch.
    Ech liese grad e spannend Buch.

    Adjectives that already end in d or t do not add another t before a neuter noun.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Present Participle in -endLevel 6The Present Participle in -end

Learn This First

Before The Present Participle in -end, learn Participles Used as Adjectives.