B1 · Intermediate Chapter 5

The Passive Voice: Describing Actions and States

4 Total Rules
44 examples
5 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

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.

What You'll Learn

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.

Chapter Guide

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.

Key Examples (8)

1

{das|n} Paket wird heute geliefert.

The package is being delivered today.

German Passive Voice: Focus on the Action (Vorgangspassiv)
2

{die|f} Pizza wird gerade frisch zubereitet.

The pizza is currently being freshly prepared.

German Passive Voice: Focus on the Action (Vorgangspassiv)
3

Wir können gehen, das Handy ist endlich aufgeladen.

We can go, the cell phone is finally charged.

Statal Passive: The 'Done' State (Zustandspassiv)
4

Komm essen, der Tisch ist schon gedeckt!

Come eat, the table is already set!

Statal Passive: The 'Done' State (Zustandspassiv)
5

Das iPhone wurde 2007 von Steve Jobs vorgestellt.

The iPhone was introduced by Steve Jobs in 2007.

German Passive Voice in the Past (Präteritum Passiv)
6

Die Pizza wurde vor 10 Minuten geliefert.

The pizza was delivered 10 minutes ago.

German Passive Voice in the Past (Präteritum Passiv)
7

Die Pizza ist endlich geliefert worden!

The pizza has finally been delivered!

Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)
8

Dein Konto ist gesperrt worden.

Your account has been blocked.

Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Focus on the Object

If you want to highlight the object, put it at the beginning of the sentence.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Passive Voice: Focus on the Action (Vorgangspassiv)
💡

Check the state

Ask yourself: is the action happening or is it done?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Statal Passive: The 'Done' State (Zustandspassiv)
💡

Focus on the object

Always identify the object of the active sentence first; it becomes the subject of your passive sentence.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Passive Voice in the Past (Präteritum Passiv)
💡

The 'worden' Rule

Always end your passive perfect sentence with 'worden'. It's the anchor of the sentence.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Key Vocabulary (5)

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

Real-World Preview

megaphone

Official Announcement

Review Summary

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

Common Mistakes

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

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

Passive requires a participle, not just an adjective.

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

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

Wrong: Die Tür ist geschlossen durch ihn.
Correct: 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

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank.

Das Fenster ___ geöffnet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ist
Statal passive uses sein.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Statal Passive: The 'Done' State (Zustandspassiv)

Fill in the correct form of 'werden'.

Der Brief ___ geschrieben.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wurde
Präteritum Passiv uses 'wurde'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Passive Voice in the Past (Präteritum Passiv)

Which is the passive?

Which sentence is passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das ist gemacht worden.
This is the perfect passive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Fill in the blank.

Das Auto ist ___ worden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: repariert
Needs the past participle.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Das Buch ist gelesen geworden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Buch ist gelesen worden.
Use 'worden' not 'geworden'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Fill in the passive marker.

Die Tür ist geöffnet ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: worden
Passive marker is 'worden'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Das {das|n} Buch wird von {der|m} Autor geschrieben.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das {das|n} Buch wird von {dem|m} Autor geschrieben.
Von requires Dative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Passive Voice: Focus on the Action (Vorgangspassiv)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Auto wurde repariert.
Correct word order.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Passive Voice in the Past (Präteritum Passiv)

Find the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Die Häuser wurde gebaut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wurde
Should be 'wurden'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: German Passive Voice in the Past (Präteritum Passiv)

Choose the correct auxiliary.

Die Arbeit ___ gemacht worden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ist
Passive perfect uses 'sein'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Past Passive: ist ... worden (Process)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, but it sounds formal. Use it when you want to be objective.
'Werden' is for processes (happening now), 'sein' is for states (finished).
No, only transitive verbs.
To focus on the action rather than the actor.
Yes, for the Präteritum Passiv.
Passive voice in German is constructed with 'sein' because it describes a state or a process, not an active possession.
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