The Passive Voice: Describing Actions and States
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of shifting focus from the actor to the action with German passive constructions.
- Construct sentences using werden + Partizip II for ongoing actions.
- Describe existing states using sein + Partizip II.
- Narrate past events using Präteritum and Perfekt passive forms.
学べること
Ready to unlock a super important and cool aspect of German grammar? In this chapter, we're going to learn how to shift the focus from *who did the action* to *what happened* or *what is being done*. This will make your German sound much more natural and sophisticated, especially when discussing general events or states.
We'll kick things off with the 'Vorgangspassiv.' Here, you'll learn how to use werden + Partizip II to talk about an action that is currently happening, without needing to specify the doer. Think news reports: you'll hear 'The topic *is being discussed*' rather than 'People are discussing the topic.' Next, we'll dive into the 'Zustandspassiv' with sein + Partizip II, which is like an instant snapshot! It describes the current state of something after an action has been performed on it. For example, 'The door *is open*' means someone opened it previously, and it's currently open.
Then, we'll move to the past. For past events where the agent isn't important or is unknown, you'll learn how to form the 'Präteritum Passiv' with wurde + Partizip II; for instance, 'The building *was demolished* yesterday.' Finally, if you want to say that an action 'has been done' and is completed, you'll master the combination of ist/sind with the participle and worden. This is crucial for describing a completed process, like 'The letters *have been sent*.'
These skills will help you better understand news and official announcements, grasp more formal language when you're in a restaurant or an office, and even present yourself more professionally. By the end of this chapter, you'll confidently narrate events, describe situations, and understand complex German texts with a much richer vocabulary. Get ready to elevate your German!
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ドイツ語の受動態：動作に焦点を当てる (Vorgangspassiv)
werden+過去分詞を使って、動作のプロセスにフォーカスしましょう。werdenが文のエンジンです。 -
状態受動態：結果だけを言う「〜してある」 (Zustandspassiv)動作が終わった後の「結果としての状態」を伝えたい時は、
seinと「過去分詞」を組み合わせるだけでOKです。 -
ドイツ語の過去受動態 (Präteritum Passiv)「誰が」を隠して「何がされたか」を伝えたい時は、
wurdeとPartizip IIのコンビを使いましょう。 -
過去の受動態：ist ... worden (〜された)ドイツ語で「〜された（完了）」と言いたい時は、
ist/sindと過去分詞を組み合わせて、最後にwordenを置くだけで完璧です！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: Transform active sentences into passive constructions to sound more objective.
チャプターガイド
Overview
The document is being signed.Following this, we’ll explore the Zustandspassiv (statal passive), formed with sein and the Partizip II.
The window is closed.We will then delve into the past, covering the Präteritum Passiv (imperfect passive) using wurde + Partizip II for past actions, and the perfect passive, ist/sind ... worden, which signifies a completed action or process.
How This Grammar Works
Das Buch wird gelesen(The book is being read). The Zustandspassiv, on the other hand, describes the state or condition resulting from an action. It is formed using the verb sein conjugated in the appropriate tense, followed by the Partizip II.
Das Buch ist gelesen(The book is read/finished).
Das Buch wurde gelesen(The book was read). To express a completed action or process in the past (similar to the English present perfect passive), you use the auxiliary verb sein conjugated in the appropriate tense, followed by the Partizip II of the main verb, and then worden (which is the Partizip II of werden).
Das Buch ist gelesen worden(The book has been read). This comprehensive system allows for precise descriptions of actions and their outcomes across different time frames.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong:
Die Tür ist geöffnet.
Die Tür ist geöffnet.(or
Die Tür wurde geöffnet.)
Die Tür ist geöffnetdescribes the *state* of the door being open. If you want to convey the *action* of someone opening the door, especially as a past event, you would use the Präteritum Passiv:
Die Tür wurde geöffnet(The door was opened). Using
ist geöffnet alone can sometimes be ambiguous about whether it's describing the ongoing action or the resulting state, but typically implies the state.- 1✗ Wrong:
Ich bin gegessen worden.
Ich wurde gegessen. (or Ich bin gegessen worden.)
ist/sind ... worden is used for the perfect passive, indicating a completed action or process. Ich bin gegessen wordenis grammatically correct, meaning
I have been eaten.However, it's very rare and often sounds unnatural in everyday conversation unless in a very specific, perhaps metaphorical, context. For a simple past action,
Ich wurde gegessen is more direct. The confusion arises from trying to directly translate English perfect passive structures without considering the nuance of the German forms.
Real Conversations
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Quick FAQ
When should I use the Vorgangspassiv versus the Zustandspassiv?
Use the Vorgangspassiv (werden + Partizip II) to describe an action that is happening or being performed. Use the Zustandspassiv (sein + Partizip II) to describe the resulting state or condition after an action has been completed.
How do I form the passive voice in the future tense?
The future passive is formed using the future tense of werden plus the Partizip II. For example:
Das Problem wird gelöst werden(The problem will be solved).
Cultural Context
重要な例文 (4)
{die|f} Pizza wird gerade frisch zubereitet.
ピザは今、作りたてが用意されています。
ドイツ語の受動態：動作に焦点を当てる (Vorgangspassiv)ヒントとコツ (4)
werdenの変化がカギ！
werden はこの文のエンジンです。主語に合わせて正しく活用させないと、文全体が不自然になります。 Du wirst heute abgeholt.
「もう（schon）」テスト
schon（すでに）を入れてみて、意味が通じるなら状態受動態の出番です。 Das Fenster ist schon geschlossen.
「状態」との違いに注意！
wurde です。 Die Tür wurde um 8 Uhr geschlossen.
Worden vs. Geworden
Geworden は「〜になった」という状態の変化、worden は受動態専用。Er ist alt geworden.（彼は老けた）と混同しないように注意しましょう。
重要な語彙 (5)
Real-World Preview
Official Announcement
Review Summary
- werden + Partizip II
- sein + Partizip II
- wurde + Partizip II
- ist ... worden + Partizip II
よくある間違い
German uses 'sein' + 'worden' for Perfekt passive, not 'haben' or 'gewesen'.
Passive requires a participle, not just an adjective.
Passive with agent uses 'von' + Dative, not 'durch'.
このチャプターのルール (4)
Next Steps
You've conquered the passive voice! Keep practicing in your daily reading, and soon it will feel like second nature.
Watch a German news report (Tagesschau) and note passive sentences.
クイック練習 (6)
Find and fix the mistake:
{die|f} Hausaufgaben werden macht.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ドイツ語の受動態：動作に焦点を当てる (Vorgangspassiv)
{das|n} Auto ___ repariert.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ドイツ語の受動態：動作に焦点を当てる (Vorgangspassiv)
Das Paket ___ gestern geschickt worden.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の受動態：ist ... worden (〜された)
受動態の文を選んでください：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ドイツ語の受動態：動作に焦点を当てる (Vorgangspassiv)
Find and fix the mistake:
Die Pizza hat bestellt worden.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の受動態：ist ... worden (〜された)
Mein Fahrrad ist gestohlen ...
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去の受動態：ist ... worden (〜された)
Score: /6
よくある質問 (6)
{das|n} Auto wird gewaschen.（車が洗われている）のように使います。
werden を置き、文の最後に 過去分詞（Partizip II） を置きます。 Ich werde gefragt.Das Kind ist eingeschlafen.（子供は寝てしまった）のように完了形と混同しないよう注意しましょう。
Der Laden ist heute geöffnet.
Ich wurde gestern operiert（昨日手術を受けました）のように、動作を受ける人なら誰でも主語になれます。
wurde は書き言葉や報告（過去形）、 ist worden は会話（現在完了形）でよく使われます。
