B2 · 중상급 챕터 17

The Passive Voice: Focusing on the Action

8 총 규칙
82 예문
7 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Shift the focus from the 'who' to the 'what' and master professional German communication.

  • Construct the werden-Passiv to describe ongoing processes.
  • Distinguish between agents (von) and means (durch) with precision.
  • Use passive alternatives like 'sich lassen' to sound more natural and academic.
Master the art of objective and sophisticated German expression.

배울 내용

Ready to fine-tune your German and sound truly native? This chapter is where you unlock the power of the German passive voice, a crucial skill for expressing yourself with precision and nuance. We'll move beyond simple 'who did what' sentences and dive deep into how to focus on the action, the result, or the event itself, without always needing to name the actor. Think of how news reports or official statements often describe events – that's the passive voice in action! You'll kick things off with the fundamental 'werden-Passiv' – the workhorse for describing what is being done. Then, you'll master the subtle but important distinctions between 'von' and 'durch' when you *do* need to mention who or what caused an action, making your explanations crystal clear. Ever wondered how Germans talk about a completed state, like 'the window is closed,' rather than 'the window was closed by someone'? That's the 'Zustandspassiv,' and you'll learn to use it effortlessly. We’ll also tackle the impersonal passive for when the actor is irrelevant or unknown – think general observations, like 'Es wird getanzt!' (Dancing is happening!). And for that ultimate native touch, you'll explore elegant alternatives to the passive, such as 'sich lassen' and the incredibly versatile 'man' construction. These aren't just grammar rules; they're your secret weapons for speaking German more naturally, actively, and smoothly, allowing you to sidestep clunky passive phrases. By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand the passive voice; you'll *command* it, using it to describe complex situations, processes, and results with the confidence of an upper-intermediate speaker. Get ready to sound more authentic and sophisticated!

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 werden-Passiv across different tenses.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Correctly identify when to use 'von' versus 'durch' to describe the cause of an action.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Describe completed states using the Zustandspassiv.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Employ passive substitutes like 'sich lassen' and 'man' to vary sentence structure.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome, B2 German learners! Ready to elevate your German grammar and sound truly native? This chapter is your key to mastering the German passive voice, an indispensable skill for expressing yourself with precision and nuance.
Moving beyond simple 'who did what' sentences, we'll dive deep into how to focus on the action, the result, or the event itself, without always needing to name the actor. Think of how news reports or official statements often describe events – that's the passive voice in action! It's a hallmark of sophisticated B2 German communication.
You’ll kick things off with the fundamental werden-Passiv – the workhorse for describing what is being done. Then, you'll master the subtle but important distinctions between von and durch when you *do* need to mention who or what caused an action, making your explanations crystal clear. Ever wondered how Germans talk about a completed state, like 'the window is closed,' rather than 'the window was closed by someone'?
That's the Zustandspassiv, and you'll learn to use it effortlessly. We’ll also tackle the impersonal passive for when the actor is irrelevant or unknown – think general observations, like Es wird getanzt! (Dancing is happening!).
And for that ultimate native touch, you'll explore elegant alternatives to the passive, such as sich lassen and the incredibly versatile man construction. These aren't just grammar rules; they're your secret weapons for speaking German more naturally, actively, and smoothly, allowing you to sidestep clunky passive phrases. By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand the passive voice in German; you'll *command* it, using it to describe complex situations, processes, and results with the confidence of an upper-intermediate speaker.
Get ready to sound more authentic and sophisticated!

How This Grammar Works

The core of the German passive voice is the werden-Passiv, which describes an action being performed. It's formed with the auxiliary verb werden conjugated for the subject, plus the Partizip II (past participle) of the main verb. For example, Das Buch wird gelesen (The book is being read).
When you want to specify *who* performed the action, you use von + Dativ: Das Buch wird von der Studentin gelesen (The book is being read by the student). If you're indicating the *means* or *cause* of an action, use durch + Akkusativ: Das Fenster wurde durch den Ball zerbrochen (The window was broken by the ball).
For describing a *state* or *result* rather than an ongoing action, we use the Zustandspassiv. This is formed with sein (to be) + Partizip II. For instance, Das Fenster ist geschlossen (The window is closed) describes the state of the window, not the act of closing it.
The impersonal passive is used when the actor is irrelevant or unknown, often starting with Es: Es wird hier nicht geraucht (No smoking is allowed here).
The passive can also be combined with modal verbs. This structure uses the modal verb + Partizip II + werden. For example, Die Arbeit muss heute erledigt werden (The work must be done today).
To avoid the passive, especially in spoken German, sich lassen is a great alternative, meaning something
allows itself to be done
or can be done: Das lässt sich leicht reparieren (That can be easily repaired). Another common passive substitute is the indefinite pronoun man, which translates to one or people and makes a statement general: Man spricht hier Deutsch (German is spoken here / People speak German here). Mastering these options will significantly enhance your B2 German fluency.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Das Fenster ist geschlossen werden.
✓ Correct: Das Fenster wird geschlossen. (The window is being closed.) OR Das Fenster ist geschlossen. (The window is closed.)
*Explanation:* This error mixes the auxiliary verbs for werden-Passiv and Zustandspassiv. Werden is for the action (is being closed), sein is for the state (is closed). You cannot use sein *and* werden together in this way for a simple passive construction.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Der Brief wurde mit dem Postboten geschickt.
✓ Correct: Der Brief wurde von dem Postboten geschickt. (The letter was sent by the postman.)
*Explanation:* When indicating the *agent* (the person or thing performing the action), you must use von + Dativ. Mit (with) is incorrect here; it usually indicates an instrument or accompaniment.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Es wurde viel gelacht und getanzt. (Referring to a specific group of people who laughed and danced.)
✓ Correct: Es wurde viel gelacht und getanzt. (Much laughing and dancing happened.) OR Sie haben viel gelacht und getanzt. (They laughed and danced a lot.)
*Explanation:* The impersonal passive Es wird getanzt is for general statements where the agent is unknown or unimportant. If you know who did it and want to emphasize them, use an active construction or a different passive form. The first sentence is grammatically correct as an impersonal passive but might be a common mistake if the speaker *intends* to refer to specific people without making it clear. It's often misused when a more active or agent-focused sentence is appropriate.

Real Conversations

A

A

Schau mal, das neue Rathaus wird gerade gebaut. (Look, the new town hall is currently being built.)
B

B

Ja, ich habe gehört, es soll nächstes Jahr fertiggestellt werden. (Yes, I heard it's supposed to be finished next year.)
A

A

Die Tür ist offen. Sollte sie nicht geschlossen sein? (The door is open. Shouldn't it be closed?)
B

B

Oh, stimmt! Sie wurde wahrscheinlich vom Wind aufgestoßen. (Oh, right! It was probably blown open by the wind.)
A

A

Man sagt, dass in diesem Restaurant das beste Schnitzel der Stadt serviert wird. (It is said that the best schnitzel in the city is served in this restaurant.)
B

B

Wirklich? Das lässt sich doch leicht überprüfen! Lass uns hingehen. (Really? That can be easily checked! Let's go there.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the main difference between werden-Passiv and Zustandspassiv in German grammar?

The werden-Passiv describes an *action* in progress (wird gemacht - is being done), while the Zustandspassiv describes a *state* or *result* after an action has occurred (ist gemacht - is done/finished).

Q

Can I use the passive voice with all German verbs?

No, only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object in the active voice) can form the werden-Passiv. Intransitive verbs (like schlafen - to sleep, or gehen - to go) cannot form a personal passive, though some can be used in the impersonal passive (Es wird geschlafen - Sleeping is happening).

Q

How do I correctly use von vs. durch in the German passive voice?

Use von + Dativ when specifying the *agent* (the person or living being performing the action). Use durch + Akkusativ when referring to the *means* or *cause* (the inanimate object or abstract concept that caused the action).

Q

Are there simple ways to avoid the passive voice in B2 German writing?

Absolutely! Common alternatives include using the indefinite pronoun man (Man spricht Deutsch), the reflexive construction sich lassen (Das lässt sich machen), or simply rephrasing the sentence actively if the agent is known and relevant.

Cultural Context

The German passive voice is a fundamental aspect of formal and official communication. You'll encounter it frequently in news reports, academic texts, administrative documents, and technical instructions. It allows for objectivity and precision, often downplaying the actor in favor of the event itself.
While the werden-Passiv is common, native speakers often prefer active alternatives like man or sich lassen in everyday conversation to sound less formal and more direct, especially at a B2 German level. Mastering these nuances helps you sound truly authentic.

주요 예문 (8)

1

Das Video wird gerade auf YouTube hochgeladen.

그 비디오는 지금 유튜브에 업로드되고 있어요.

독일어 수동태: 행동에 집중하기 (werden-Passiv)
2

Der Termin wurde wegen der Zoom-Probleme verschoben.

그 약속은 줌 문제 때문에 연기되었어요.

독일어 수동태: 행동에 집중하기 (werden-Passiv)
3

Die {die|f} E-Mail wurde von der {die|f} Chefin unterschrieben.

이 이메일은 여자 사장님에 의해 서명되었습니다.

누가 했나요? 수동태의 행위자 'von' (von + Dativ)
4

Dieses {das|n} Video wurde von Millionen Menschen gesehen.

이 비디오는 수백만 명의 사람들에게 보여졌습니다.

누가 했나요? 수동태의 행위자 'von' (von + Dativ)
5

Die Nachricht wurde durch das Internet verbreitet.

그 소식은 인터넷을 통해 퍼졌어요.

'durch'를 사용한 수동태: 수단과 원인 설명하기
6

Der Fehler wurde durch ein Software-Update behoben.

그 오류는 소프트웨어 업데이트로 해결되었어요.

'durch'를 사용한 수동태: 수단과 원인 설명하기
7

Die Hausaufgaben sind gemacht.

숙제가 끝났어요.

독일어 상태 수동태: '결과' 모드 (Zustandspassiv)
8

Der Laptop ist ausgeschaltet.

노트북이 꺼져 있어요.

독일어 상태 수동태: '결과' 모드 (Zustandspassiv)

팁과 요령 (4)

⚠️

'Geworden' 함정

친구랑 얘기하다가 피곤해졌다고 할 때
Ich bin müde geworden.
라고 하잖아요? 수동태에서는 절대 geworden을 쓰면 안 돼요. 대신 worden을 써야 해요. 예를 들어 «저는 질문받았어요»라고 할 때
Ich bin gefragt worden.
처럼요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 수동태: 행동에 집중하기 (werden-Passiv)
🎯

'만든 사람' 규칙

'von'은 영화 엔딩 크레딧처럼 누가 '만들었는지'를 알려줄 때 쓴다고 생각하면 쉬워요. 'Directed by...' 뒤에 이름이 나올 만한 상황이라면 'von'을 쓰세요. 폭풍이나 사고처럼 '자연적인 원인'일 때는 'durch'를 쓰고요.
Dieser Film wurde von Steven Spielberg gedreht.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 누가 했나요? 수동태의 행위자 'von' (von + Dativ)
🎯

'우체부' 규칙!

만약 사람이 직접 뭔가를 전달했다면 'von'을 써야 해요. 하지만 배달 트럭이나 우체국 자체처럼 '수단'에 초점을 맞출 때는 'durch'를 쓴답니다.
Der Brief wurde von der Postbotin geliefert, nicht durch das Postauto.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'durch'를 사용한 수동태: 수단과 원인 설명하기
🎯

형용사 트릭

과거 분사 대신 'grün'이나 'kaputt' 같은 일반 형용사를 넣어도 말이 된다면, 거의 확실히 상태 수동태일 거예요! 예를 들어,
Das Buch ist gelesen
(그 책은 읽혀진 상태다) 에서 'gelesen' 대신 'interessant' (흥미로운)를 넣어
Das Buch ist interessant
라고 해도 문장이 되죠.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 상태 수동태: '결과' 모드 (Zustandspassiv)

핵심 어휘 (7)

die Entscheidung the decision veröffentlichen to publish die Ursache the cause beschädigen to damage der Vorgang the process durchführen to carry out/perform das Gesetz the law

Real-World Preview

wrench

At the Car Workshop

newspaper

Reading a News Report

Review Summary

  • werden + Partizip II
  • sein + Partizip II
  • sich lassen + Infinitiv

자주 하는 실수

Learners often use 'werden' when they actually want to describe a state. 'Wird' means someone is currently closing it; 'ist' means it is already shut.

Wrong: Das Fenster wird geschlossen. (when meaning it is already closed)
정답: Das Fenster ist geschlossen.

Use 'von' for active agents (people/animals/institutions) and 'durch' for means, causes, or instruments (like wind, fire, or a key).

Wrong: Die Tür wurde von dem Wind geöffnet.
정답: Die Tür wurde durch den Wind geöffnet.

When using modals in the passive, the infinitive of 'werden' comes at the end. Do not add 'worden' unless you are forming the Perfekt tense.

Wrong: Das Haus muss gebaut werden worden.
정답: Das Haus muss gebaut werden.

이 챕터의 규칙 (8)

1

독일어 수동태: 행동에 집중하기 (werden-Passiv)

B2
독일어 수동태는 werden을 사용해서 누가 뭘 했는지보다 «무엇이» «어떻게» «되고 있는지»에 집중한답니다.
Das Video wird gerade auf YouTube hochgeladen.
10 예문
2

누가 했나요? 수동태의 행위자 'von' (von + Dativ)

B2
수동태에서 누가 행동했는지 말하고 싶을 때, von과 Dativ를 사용해서 행위자를 지정해요. 사람이나 기관이 주로 해당되죠! vom Chef, von mir처럼요.
Die {die|f} E-Mail wurde von der {die|f} Chefin un...
12 예문
3

'durch'를 사용한 수동태: 수단과 원인 설명하기

B2
어떤 일이 '어떻게' 일어났는지 방법이나 원인을 설명할 때는 durch를, '누가' 했는지 행위자를 말할 때는 von을 사용한다고 생각하시면 돼요.
Die Nachricht wurde durch das Internet verbreitet.
10 예문
4

독일어 상태 수동태: '결과' 모드 (Zustandspassiv)

B2
물건의 최종 완료 상태를 말할 때는 sein 동사와 «과거 분사» 를 함께 써서 설명하면 돼요. 핵심은 «결과» 에 초점을 맞추는 거죠.
Die Hausaufgaben sind gemacht.
10 예문
5

독일어 비인칭 수동태: 주어 없는 동작 (Es wird getanzt)

B2
주체 없이 행동이나 분위기를 설명하고 싶을 때 비인칭 수동태를 써보세요. 주로 Es wird처럼 표현해요.
Es wurde bis spät in die Nacht getanzt.
10 예문
6

화법조동사 수동태: ~되어야만 한다 (Modal + Passiv)

B2
조동사 수동태는 어떤 것이 '반드시', '할 수 있게', 또는 '해야만 한다'는 것을 표현할 때 사용하는 강력한 문법 구조예요. 기억할 핵심은 Modal 동사를 주어에 맞춰 변화시키고, 뒤에 Partizip II와 werden을 붙이는 거예요. 이 세 가지를 잘 조합하면 누구에게나 적용되는 객관적인 상황을 자연스럽게 말할 수 있답니다.
{Das|n} Handy muss aufgeladen werden.
10 예문
7

재귀적 수동태: "sich lassen"과 수동태 대체 표현

B2
werden 수동태 대신 더 세련되게 가능성을 나타내고 싶을 때, sich lassen 구문이나 부사 + 재귀동사를 활용해보세요. 기억할 키워드는 sich lassen과 «재귀동사+부사»예요.
Das Passwort lässt sich ganz einfach in den Einste...
10 예문
8

`man`을 이용한 수동태 대체 (수동태 대신 '사람들'이나 '어떤 이'라고 말하기)

B2
격식 있는 수동태 대신 man과 «3인칭 단수» 동사를 써서 더 «자연스러운» 독일어 회화를 만들어 보세요!
In dieser Bar trinkt man meistens Craft-Beer.
10 예문

Next Steps

You've just conquered one of the most technical parts of German grammar. Your ability to switch between active and passive will make your German sound incredibly professional and polished. Keep it up!

Read a German news article and highlight all passive constructions.

Describe your daily work routine using 'man' and 'werden-Passiv'.

Continue to: Hypothetical Thinking and Polite Requests

빠른 연습 (10)

이 문장의 오류를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Wir können nicht anfangen, weil das Update installiert werden mussen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wir können nicht anfangen, weil das Update installiert werden muss.
'weil'로 시작하는 종속절에서는 변화된 동사 'muss'가 'werden' 뒤, 즉 문장의 맨 끝으로 가야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 화법조동사 수동태: ~되어야만 한다 (Modal + Passiv)

실수를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Das Foto wurde von meine Schwester gemacht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Foto wurde von meiner Schwester gemacht.
'von'은 Dativ 격을 요구해요. 'meine Schwester' (여성)는 'meiner Schwester'가 됩니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 누가 했나요? 수동태의 행위자 'von' (von + Dativ)

빈칸에 알맞은 단어를 채우세요.

Das Ticket muss vor dem Einsteigen gescannt ________.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: werden
조동사 수동태 문장에서 'werden'은 항상 문장 끝에 원형으로 남아있어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 화법조동사 수동태: ~되어야만 한다 (Modal + Passiv)

어떤 문장이 올바른가요?

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 선택하세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Stadt wurde durch ein Erdbeben zerstört.
자연적인 힘이나 무생물적인 원인에는 수동태에서 'von'이 아닌 'durch' 전치사가 올바릅니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 누가 했나요? 수동태의 행위자 'von' (von + Dativ)

완료된 결과를 설명하는 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the state passive sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Tür ist geschlossen.
'ist geschlossen'는 과정이 아닌 결과를 설명합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 상태 수동태: '결과' 모드 (Zustandspassiv)

'werden'의 올바른 형태로 빈칸을 채우세요.

Gestern ___ bei der Party viel gelacht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wurde
'어제'(Gestern) 있었던 일이므로 과거 시제인 'wurde'가 필요해요. 비인칭 수동태는 항상 단수예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 비인칭 수동태: 주어 없는 동작 (Es wird getanzt)

빈칸을 채우세요

Das {das|n} Problem ___ sich schnell lösen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lässt
주어 'Das Problem'(단수)에 맞춰 'lassen' 동사를 'lässt'로 활용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 재귀적 수동태: "sich lassen"과 수동태 대체 표현

현재 진행 중인 동작을 올바르게 나타내는 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct passive sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Auto wird repariert.
'wird repariert' (과정 수동)는 현재 진행 중인 동작을 설명하고, 'ist repariert' (상태 수동)는 완료된 상태를 설명해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 수동태: 행동에 집중하기 (werden-Passiv)

수동태 문장인 '{das|n} Ticket wird am Automaten gekauft.'를 대체할 가장 자연스러운 `man` 구문을 고르세요.

가장 자연스러운 `man` 구문을 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man kauft {das|n} Ticket am Automaten.
수동태를 대체하려면 man과 단수 동사를 사용해서 행위자를 익명으로, 하지만 능동적으로 만드세요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: `man`을 이용한 수동태 대체 (수동태 대신 '사람들'이나 '어떤 이'라고 말하기)

'sein' 동사의 올바른 형태로 빈칸을 채우세요.

Die Koffer ___ gepackt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sind
'Die Koffer'는 복수형이므로 'sind'를 사용합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 상태 수동태: '결과' 모드 (Zustandspassiv)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

독일어는 동작의 *과정*과 *결과*를 구분해요. 'werden'은 동작이나 변화의 진행에 초점을 맞추고요 (
Das Auto wird repariert.
- 차가 수리 *되고 있어요*). 반면에 'sein'은 동작이 완료된 *상태*에 초점을 맞춘답니다 (
Das Auto ist repariert.
- 차가 수리 *되어 있어요*).
행위자가 사람인 경우에는 'von + 3격'을 써요. 예를 들어 «선생님에 의해»는 von der Lehrerin이 되죠. 만약 비인간적인 원인일 경우에는 'durch + 4격'을 사용해요. «바람에 의해»는 durch den Wind처럼요.
네, 하지만 반드시 Dativ 형태로 써야 해요. 'von mir' (나에 의해), 'von dir' (너에 의해), 'von ihm' (그에 의해) 등이죠. 예를 들어: 'Das Geschenk wurde von mir gekauft.' (그 선물은 나에 의해 구매되었다.)
'Vom'은 단순히 'von' + 'dem' (남성 또는 중성 Dativ)의 줄임말이에요. 구어체 독일어에서는 'vom'이 훨씬 더 흔하게 사용된답니다.
네! 예를 들어,
Das Haus wurde von dem Architekten durch moderne Technik gebaut.
(그 집은 건축가에 의해 현대적인 기술로 지어졌어요.)처럼 같은 문장 안에서 충분히 사용할 수 있어요.
자연재해는 의지를 가진 '행위자'라기보다는 어떤 '원인'이나 '힘'으로 간주되기 때문이에요. 그래서 'durch'가 사용된답니다.
이전 챕터
Connecting Ideas and Past Events
다음 챕터
Hypothetical Thinking and Polite Requests
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