B1 · 중급 챕터 5

The Passive Voice: Describing Actions and States

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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.
Shift the focus, master the action.

배울 내용

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!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Transform active sentences into passive constructions to sound more objective.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to a crucial and powerful aspect of German grammar: the passive voice. You've likely encountered situations where the person or thing performing an action isn't as important as the action itself, or perhaps the performer is unknown. This is precisely where the passive voice shines, allowing you to shift the focus and make your German sound more natural and sophisticated.
Think of news reports, official announcements, or even everyday descriptions where the emphasis is on what is happening or what has happened. By mastering the passive voice, you’ll unlock a deeper understanding of German texts and express yourself with greater nuance. This chapter will guide you through the different forms of the German passive, equipping you to describe ongoing actions, resulting states, past events, and completed processes with confidence.
This chapter breaks down the German passive voice into its essential components, making it accessible and manageable. We'll start with the Vorgangspassiv (process passive), which uses the auxiliary verb werden combined with the Partizip II (past participle) to describe an action in progress. This is your go-to for sentences like
The document is being signed.
Following this, we’ll explore the Zustandspassiv (statal passive), formed with sein and the Partizip II.
This form describes the *result* or *state* after an action has been completed, such as
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

The German passive voice fundamentally changes the sentence structure by making the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence. The original subject (the doer of the action) can either be omitted or introduced with the preposition von (by). The core of forming the passive voice lies in combining an auxiliary verb with the Partizip II of the main verb.
There are two main types of passive voice in German: the Vorgangspassiv (process passive) and the Zustandspassiv (statal passive). The Vorgangspassiv describes an action that is happening or being done. It is formed using the verb werden conjugated in the appropriate tense, followed by the Partizip II of the main verb.
For example, in the present tense:
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.
For instance:
Das Buch ist gelesen
(The book is read/finished).
In the past, the Präteritum Passiv (imperfect passive) uses the conjugated form of werden in the imperfect tense (wurde/wurden) plus the Partizip II. For example:
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).
For example:
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. 1✗ Wrong:
    Die Tür ist geöffnet.
✓ Correct:
Die Tür ist geöffnet.
(or
Die Tür wurde geöffnet.
)
*Explanation:* While grammatically correct,
Die Tür ist geöffnet
describes 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. 1✗ Wrong:
    Ich bin gegessen worden.
✓ Correct: Ich wurde gegessen. (or
Ich bin gegessen worden.
)
*Explanation:* The form ist/sind ... worden is used for the perfect passive, indicating a completed action or process.
Ich bin gegessen worden
is 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

A

A

Die Rechnung wird gerade bearbeitet. (The bill is currently being processed.)
B

B

Wann wird sie bezahlt werden? (When will it be paid?)
A

A

Das Fenster ist offen. (The window is open.)
B

B

Ja, es wurde gestern Abend geöffnet. (Yes, it was opened last night.)

Quick FAQ

Q

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.

Q

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

The passive voice is frequently used in German, especially in formal contexts like official documents, news broadcasts, and scientific reports. Its prevalence contributes to a more objective and impersonal tone, which is often valued in these settings. Understanding and using the passive voice will significantly enhance your comprehension of formal written and spoken German.

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

'werden' 동사 활용이 중요해요

'werden' 동사를 제대로 활용하지 않으면 문장이 이상해져요. 꼭 주어에 맞춰서 바꿔주세요!
{das|n} Paket wird heute geliefert.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 수동태: 동작에 집중하기 (Vorgangspassiv)
🎯

'Schon' 테스트를 해보세요

문장에 '이미(schon)'를 넣어서 말이 된다면 상태 수동태가 정답일 확률이 높아요:
Die Tür ist schon geschlossen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 상태 수동태: 이미 '완료된' 상태 말하기 (Zustandspassiv)
🎯

상태인지 동작인지 구분하기

어떤 일이 '벌어지는 중'이었는지, 아니면 이미 '완료된 상태'였는지 생각해보세요. 동작이라면 wurde를 써야 해요.
Der Laden wurde um 8 Uhr geschlossen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 과거 수동태 (Präteritum Passiv)
⚠️

Worden vs. Geworden 헷갈리지 마세요!

정말 많이 틀리는 부분이에요. 'Geworden'은 '~가 되었다(상태 변화)'는 뜻이고, 수동태에서는 오직 'Worden'만 써요.
Er ist befördert worden.
처럼 ge-가 없는 형태를 기억하세요!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 수동태: ist ... worden (~되었다)

핵심 어휘 (5)

die Handlung (f) the action werden to become der Zustand (m) the state demnach therefore/accordingly worden been (passive auxiliary)

Real-World Preview

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Official Announcement

Review Summary

  • werden + Partizip II
  • sein + Partizip II
  • wurde + Partizip II
  • ist ... worden + Partizip II

자주 하는 실수

German uses 'sein' + 'worden' for Perfekt passive, not 'haben' or 'gewesen'.

Wrong: Das Haus wird gebaut gewesen.
정답: Das Haus ist gebaut worden.

Passive requires a participle, not just an adjective.

Wrong: Das Licht wurde an.
정답: Das Licht wurde angemacht.

Passive with agent uses 'von' + Dative, not 'durch'.

Wrong: Die Tür ist geschlossen durch ihn.
정답: Die Tür wird von ihm geschlossen.

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.

Continue to: Conjunctions and Time Expressions

빠른 연습 (6)

'werden'의 올바른 형태를 빈칸에 채우세요.

{das|n} Auto ___ repariert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wird
'Das Auto'는 3인칭 단수(es)이므로 'wird'를 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 수동태: 동작에 집중하기 (Vorgangspassiv)

다음 문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 바르게 고친 것을 고르세요.

Die Pizza hat bestellt worden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Pizza ist bestellt worden.
수동태 완료형에서는 'hat' 대신 반드시 'ist'를 써야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 수동태: ist ... worden (~되었다)

문장에서 실수를 찾아 수정하세요.

{die|f} Hausaufgaben werden macht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {die|f} Hausaufgaben werden gemacht.
'machen'의 과거분사는 'gemacht'이고, 'Hausaufgaben'는 복수이므로 'werden'을 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 수동태: 동작에 집중하기 (Vorgangspassiv)

수동태 문장을 고르세요.

수동태 문장을 식별하세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {der|m} Apfel wird gegessen.
이 문장은 'werden' + Partizip II를 사용하는데, 이것이 수동태의 특징이에요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 수동태: 동작에 집중하기 (Vorgangspassiv)

알맞은 도움 동사를 골라 문장을 완성하세요.

{Das|n} Paket ___ gestern geschickt worden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ist
수동태 완료형(Passive Perfect)은 항상 'sein' 동사를 도움 동사로 사용합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 수동태: ist ... worden (~되었다)

문장 끝에 올 알맞은 표현을 고르세요.

Mein Fahrrad ist gestohlen ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: worden
수동태를 만들 때는 'geworden'에서 ge-를 뺀 'worden'을 사용해야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 수동태: ist ... worden (~되었다)

Score: /6

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

능동태는 행위를 누가 하는지에 초점을 맞춰요 (예: '내가 차를 씻는다'). 수동태는 행위 자체에 초점을 맞춰요 (예: '차가 씻기는 중이다').
'werden' 동사를 두 번째 위치에 활용시키고, 문장 끝에 과거분사(Partizip II)를 붙이면 돼요.
대부분 가능하지만, 주로 상태의 변화를 가져오는 타동사와 잘 어울려요. '자다(schlafen)' 같은 동사는 '자진 상태이다'라는 말이 어색해서 잘 안 써요.
Das Kind ist eingeschlafen.
'ist geöffnet'은 누군가 열었다는 동작의 결과를 강조하고, 'ist offen'은 그냥 형용사예요. 일상생활에서는 99% 섞어 써도 괜찮아요.
Der Laden ist heute geöffnet.
그럼요! 주어가 동작을 받는 대상이라면 사람도 가능해요. 예를 들어
Ich wurde gestern operiert
(나는 어제 수술을 받았다)처럼 쓸 수 있답니다.
wurde는 주로 글을 쓰거나 보고할 때 쓰는 과거형이고, ist worden은 말할 때 쓰는 완료형이에요. 의미는 같지만 Das wurde gemacht가 더 격식 있게 들려요.
이전 챕터
Advanced Storytelling and Future Plans
다음 챕터
Conjunctions and Time Expressions
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