B2 Verb Moods 17 min read Medium

German Impersonal Passive: Actions Without Subjects (Es wird getanzt)

Use the impersonal passive to describe actions or vibes without needing a subject to perform them.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the impersonal passive when the action is more important than who is performing it, especially with intransitive verbs.

  • Use 'es' as a placeholder subject when no other subject exists: 'Es wird hier nicht geraucht.'
  • Only verbs that can be used intransitively (no direct object) work here: 'Es wird gelacht.'
  • The verb is always in the third-person singular: 'Es wird getanzt' (not 'Es werden getanzt').
Es + wird + Partizip II

Overview

German impersonal passive, or unpersönliches Passiv, is a grammatical construction enabling you to describe an action or event where the agent performing the action is either unknown, unimportant, or deliberately left unmentioned. Unlike the personal passive, which transforms a transitive verb's direct object into a subject (Der Ball wird getreten – der Ball is the subject), the impersonal passive is predominantly used with intransitive verbs or verbs that take a dative object or a prepositional object, which lack a direct accusative object to become a nominative subject. This structure allows German to maintain its focus on the action itself, abstracting away from the actor, and is a hallmark of formal, objective, or general statements.

The existence of the impersonal passive is deeply rooted in German's grammatical structure, specifically its commitment to the verb-second (V2) word order in main clauses. When a sentence requires focusing on an action performed by an unspecified agent, and the verb inherently lacks an accusative object, the impersonal passive provides a syntactic solution. It creates a grammatically complete sentence by introducing a placeholder subject, es, if no other element occupies the first position, thereby fulfilling the V2 requirement while strictly emphasizing the process.

This construction elevates the event above its participants, making it indispensable for conveying general truths, reporting events, or describing atmospheres where the who is irrelevant.

For instance, if you want to state that dancing occurred, but you neither know nor care who danced, you use Es wird getanzt. Similarly, in a situation where help was provided, but the helper is not central to the message, Es wurde ihm geholfen (He was helped) is the appropriate construction. The impersonal passive functions as a linguistic mechanism to present actions as inherent events, often seen in official announcements, regulations, or observations about public life.

Mastery of this passive form is essential for achieving a B2 level of fluency, enabling you to articulate complex ideas and nuances of agency in German.

How This Grammar Works

The impersonal passive fundamentally operates on verbs that cannot form a personal passive construction. A personal passive sentence, such as Der Kuchen wird gebacken (The cake is baked), requires a transitive verb with an accusative object that can then become the new nominative subject. However, many verbs in German are intransitive (e.g., tanzen, schlafen) or take a dative object (e.g., helfen, antworten) or a prepositional object (e.g., arbeiten an, sprechen über).
These verbs do not have an accusative object available to transform into a subject, making a personal passive impossible.
To circumvent this, German employs the placeholder pronoun es. This es acts solely as a grammatical subject, ensuring that the main clause adheres to the verb-second word order, without referring to any specific entity. It does not carry semantic meaning but serves a purely syntactic function.
Consequently, the verb werden is always conjugated in the third-person singular (wird in the present tense, wurde in the simple past), regardless of how many people were involved in the action. The action itself is the singular 'thing' that is happening.
Consider the verb lachen (to laugh), which is intransitive. You cannot "laugh something." Therefore, to express "There was laughing," German uses Es wird gelacht. The es fills the subject position, and wird is singular.
Similarly, for helfen (to help), which takes a dative object, you might say Es wird dem(m) Kind geholfen (The child is being helped). Here, dem(m) Kind remains in the dative case; it does not become the subject, as that role is occupied by the impersonal es. This demonstrates the core principle: the action is performed, but no one is explicitly performing it, nor is there a direct recipient that becomes the grammatical subject.
This mechanism allows German speakers to talk about general occurrences or atmospheres. For example, Es wird viel geredet means "Much talking is happening," or Es wird um Ruhe gebeten (Silence is requested). This structure separates the action from any specific agent, placing the emphasis entirely on the process or state being described.

Formation Pattern

1
The impersonal passive is constructed using the auxiliary verb werden and the Partizip II (past participle) of the main verb. The primary challenge lies in correctly handling the placeholder es and ensuring werden is always in the third-person singular.
2
Basic Structure (with es in position 1):
3
Es + konjugiertes WERDEN (3. Pers. Singular) + ... + Partizip II
4
Example: Es wird hier oft getanzt. (Dancing often occurs here.)
5
Example: Es wurde den(n) Gästen geholfen. (The guests were helped.)
6
Alternative Structure (without es in position 1):
7
When another element (e.g., an adverb, a dative object, a temporal phrase) occupies the first position in a main clause, the placeholder es is omitted. The V2 rule still applies, meaning werden remains in the second position.
8
Anderes Element (Position 1) + konjugiertes WERDEN (3. Pers. Singular) + ... + Partizip II
9
Example: Hier wird oft getanzt. (Here, dancing often occurs.)
10
Example: Den(n) Gästen wurde geholfen. (The guests were helped.)
11
Impersonal Passive in Various Tenses:
12
The conjugation of werden dictates the tense of the impersonal passive. The Partizip II of the main verb remains unchanged at the end of the clause.
13
| Tense | Structure | Example (with tanzen) |
14
| :---------------- | :--------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------- |
15
| Präsens | Es wird + Partizip II | Es wird getanzt. (Dancing is happening.) |
16
| Präteritum | Es wurde + Partizip II | Es wurde getanzt. (Dancing happened.) |
17
| Perfekt | Es ist + Partizip II + worden | Es ist getanzt worden. (Dancing has happened.) |
18
| Plusquamperfekt | Es war + Partizip II + worden | Es war getanzt worden. (Dancing had happened.) |
19
| Futur I | Es wird + Partizip II + werden | Es wird getanzt werden. (Dancing will happen.) |
20
| Futur II | Es wird + Partizip II + worden + sein | Es wird getanzt worden sein. (Dancing will have happened.) |
21
Impersonal Passive with Modal Verbs:
22
When a modal verb is involved, the structure changes slightly. The modal verb is conjugated in the third-person singular, followed by the infinitive of werden and the Partizip II of the main verb, both at the end of the sentence.
23
Es + Modalverb (3. Pers. Singular) + ... + Partizip II + werden
24
Example: Es muss getanzt werden. (Dancing must happen.)
25
Example: Es konnte ihm(m) nicht geholfen werden. (He could not be helped.)
26
In the perfect tenses with modal verbs, the structure becomes more complex, using the Ersatzinfinitiv (substitute infinitive) for the Partizip II of the modal verb:
27
Es + haben (3. Pers. Singular) + ... + Partizip II (Hauptverb) + werden + Modalverb (Infinitiv)
28
Example: Es hat getanzt werden müssen. (Dancing had to happen.)
29
Verbs with Dative Objects:
30
Verbs that govern a dative object retain their dative object in the impersonal passive. The dative object does not become the nominative subject; es fulfills that role.
31
Es wird ihm(m) geholfen. (He is being helped. – lit. It is being helped to him.)
32
Es wurde den(n) Studenten geraten. (The students were advised. – lit. It was advised to the students.)
33
Verbs with Prepositional Objects:
34
Similarly, verbs that require a specific prepositional object keep that structure in the impersonal passive. The prepositional phrase remains intact.
35
Es wird über das Problem gesprochen. (The problem is being discussed. – lit. It is being spoken about the problem.)
36
Es wird an der Lösung gearbeitet. (The solution is being worked on.)

When To Use It

The impersonal passive serves several key functions in German, primarily when the action itself is more significant than the agent performing it, or when the agent is intentionally obscured or truly unknown. Its usage spans from formal reports to casual observations about daily life.
  • Focus on the Action/Event: This is the most fundamental use case. When you want to highlight that something is happening or has happened, without specifying who is responsible, the impersonal passive is ideal. This is common when describing an atmosphere or a general state of affairs.
  • Es wird gesungen und getanzt. (There is singing and dancing.)
  • Auf der Party wurde viel gelacht. (Much laughter occurred at the party.)
  • Formal Announcements and Regulations: In official contexts, such as public notices, rules, or professional communications, the impersonal passive creates a sense of objectivity and authority. It avoids assigning responsibility to a specific person or department, making the rule or statement appear universally applicable.
  • Im Museum wird nicht fotografiert. (No photography is permitted in the museum. – lit. It is not photographed.)
  • Um Ruhe wird gebeten. (Silence is requested. – often seen on signs.)
  • General Statements and Observations: When talking about customs, habits, or general truths, especially those with an implied "one" or "people," the impersonal passive is often preferred over man-constructions when a more detached or objective tone is desired. It frames the action as a prevalent condition rather than an activity performed by a generic group.
  • In Deutschland wird sonntags nicht gearbeitet. (In Germany, one does not work on Sundays.)
  • Es wird überall über das Wetter geredet. (The weather is talked about everywhere.)
  • Reporting Events Without an Agent: In news reports, official minutes, or summaries, the impersonal passive efficiently conveys information about what transpired without getting bogged down by naming participants.
  • Es wurde um 14 Uhr mit der Konferenz begonnen. (The conference began at 2 PM.)
  • Gestern wurde gegen die Reform demonstriert. (Yesterday, there was a demonstration against the reform.)
  • Complaints or Vague Criticism (Cultural Insight): A common, subtly passive-aggressive use in German is to voice a complaint without directly accusing anyone. By stating that an action (or lack thereof) is occurring impersonally, you highlight the problem while allowing the responsible party to infer they are the target. This is a nuanced aspect of communication, often used in family or shared living situations.
  • Hier wurde schon lange nicht mehr geputzt. (It hasn't been cleaned here in a long time.) – Implies someone should have cleaned.
  • Es wurde mir(m) nicht geantwortet. (I wasn't answered.) – Highlights the lack of response without directly blaming.
  • With Verbs of Communication/Perception: These verbs often appear impersonally when the source of information is generalized or unimportant.
  • Es wird erzählt, dass... (It is said that...)
  • Es wird angenommen, dass... (It is assumed that...)

Common Mistakes

Learners at the B2 level often encounter specific pitfalls when attempting to use the German impersonal passive. Awareness of these common errors can significantly refine your usage and understanding.
  1. 1Incorrect Subject for Verbs with Dative Objects: A frequent error stems from the attempt to make a dative object the nominative subject in the passive, mirroring English sentence structures like "He was helped." In German, the dative object always remains in the dative case, and the grammatical subject of the impersonal passive is es (or implied if another element is fronted).
  • Incorrect: Er wurde geholfen. (This is ungrammatical; helfen takes Dativ)
  • Correct: Ihm wurde geholfen. (He was helped. – ihm(m) is dative)
  • Rule: Verbs that inherently take a dative object (e.g., helfen, antworten, folgen, dienen, schaden, glauben, danken, gratulieren, passen, gehören) will always keep that object in the dative case in the impersonal passive.
  1. 1Omitting es when it is Required: The placeholder es is mandatory if no other element occupies the first position in a main clause to fulfill the verb-second rule. Removing it creates ungrammatical sentences.
  • Incorrect: Wird getanzt. (Unless it's a command, which is a different structure.)
  • Correct: Es wird getanzt.
  • Rule: Es is only omitted when another constituent (adverbial phrase, dative object, etc.) is placed at the beginning of the sentence.
  • Heute wird getanzt. (Today, dancing is happening.)
  • Viel wurde gelacht. (Much was laughed.)
  1. 1Incorrect werden Conjugation (Plural Trap): Even if multiple people are implicitly involved in the action, the verb werden in the impersonal passive always remains in the third-person singular. The action is singular, not the implied participants.
  • Incorrect: Es werden getanzt. (This implies multiple 'es' which is nonsensical.)
  • Correct: Es wird getanzt. (Even if a thousand people are dancing.)
  • Rule: The grammatical subject es (or its implied presence) dictates singular verb agreement.
  1. 1Using with Transitive Verbs: The impersonal passive is specifically for verbs that cannot form a personal passive due to the lack of an accusative object. Attempting to use it with transitive verbs (which can form a personal passive) is grammatically incorrect or semantically redundant.
  • Incorrect: Es wird der Kuchen gebacken. (This should be personal passive.)
  • Correct Personal Passive: Der Kuchen wird gebacken.
  • Rule: If a verb has an accusative object, the personal passive (Akkusativobjekt -> Nominativsubjekt) is the correct choice.
  1. 1Confusing with man Constructions: While both man-constructions and the impersonal passive allow for an unspecified agent, they carry different nuances. Man implies a generic "one" or "people in general" performing the action, often feeling more active. The impersonal passive is more detached, focusing purely on the action as an event.
  • man: Man arbeitet hier viel. (People work a lot here. – More active, generic)
  • Impersonal Passive: Hier wird viel gearbeitet. (Much work is done here. – More descriptive of the state/atmosphere)
  • Rule: Choose man for a slightly more active, generic sense of "people." Choose impersonal passive for a more objective, event-focused description.
  1. 1Incorrect Partizip II Formation: As with all compound tenses and passive constructions, correct Partizip II formation is crucial. Irregular verbs require memorization.
  • Incorrect: Es wird gelach. (Incorrect Partizip II of lachen)
  • Correct: Es wird gelacht.
  • Rule: Always ensure the Partizip II is correctly formed for the main verb.

Real Conversations

The impersonal passive is not confined to academic texts or formal announcements; it is a dynamic part of everyday German communication. Its utility in modern contexts, from casual messaging to professional interactions, demonstrates its flexibility and idiomatic value.

1. Social Media and Texting (WhatsApp, Instagram):

In informal digital communication, the impersonal passive efficiently conveys a sense of excitement, an ongoing event, or general activity without needing to name every participant. It adds a vibrant, inclusive tone.

- Scenario: Friends are planning a gathering.

- Text: Wird schon klappen! (It'll work out / It'll be fine!) – A common encouraging phrase.

- Text: Später wird gefeiert! (Later, there will be partying!) – Announcing an event.

- Scenario: Describing a party or festival scene.

- Instagram Caption: Hier wird getanzt bis in den(m) Morgen! (Dancing is happening here until morning!)

- WhatsApp Message: Es wird super laut hier! (It's getting super loud here!)

2. Work Emails and Professional Settings:

In professional communication, the impersonal passive lends objectivity and formality. It's often used in project updates, requests, or to describe processes, maintaining a neutral tone and focusing on tasks rather than individuals.

- Scenario: Project manager updating a team.

- Email: An der Präsentation wird noch gearbeitet. (Work is still being done on the presentation.)

- Email: Um Rückmeldung bis Freitag wird gebeten. (Feedback is requested by Friday.) – A polite, formal request.

- Scenario: Describing a general company policy or procedure.

- Internal Memo: In der Kantine wird bargeldlos bezahlt. (Cashless payment is made in the cafeteria.)

3. Casual Conversation and Daily Observations:

In everyday speech, the impersonal passive frequently appears when making general observations about public behavior, giving instructions, or expressing vague dissatisfaction.

- Scenario: Observing a bustling street.

- Conversation: Hier wird viel geredet und gelacht. (Much talking and laughing is happening here.)

- Scenario: At a public park with rules.

- Conversation: Hier wird nicht geraucht, oder? (No smoking here, right?) – Asking about a general rule.

- Scenario: Making a subtle complaint in a shared space.

- Conversation: Schon wieder wird das Licht angelassen. (The light is left on again.) – Implies someone is habitually leaving it on.

These examples illustrate that the impersonal passive is a versatile tool for focusing on the activity itself, making it a natural and efficient choice across various communicative contexts in German.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the German impersonal passive, clarifying its scope and common distinctions.
  • Can the impersonal passive be formed with any verb?
No. It can only be formed with verbs that do not take a direct accusative object. This primarily includes intransitive verbs (e.g., tanzen, lachen, schlafen) and verbs that take a dative object (e.g., helfen, antworten) or a prepositional object (e.g., sprechen über, arbeiten an).
Transitive verbs, which have an accusative object, form the personal passive.
  • What happens to dative objects in the impersonal passive?
Dative objects remain in the dative case. They do not change to nominative because es (or an implied subject) occupies the nominative position. For example, Ihm wird geholfen. (He is being helped.) ihm(m) stays dative.
  • Is the es always mandatory at the beginning of the sentence?
No. The es is a grammatical placeholder used to ensure the verb-second word order in a main clause when no other element is in the first position. If another element (e.g., an adverb, a dative object, a temporal phrase) starts the sentence, es is omitted.
For example, Gestern wurde viel getanzt. (Yesterday, much dancing occurred.)
  • How does the impersonal passive differ from man-constructions?
Both man (man spricht, man lacht) and the impersonal passive (es wird gesprochen, es wird gelacht) are used when the agent is unspecified. However, they convey different nuances:
  • man: Implies a generic human agent ("one," "people"). It is more active and personal, suggesting that someone (a general group of people) is doing the action.
  • Impersonal Passive: Focuses purely on the action or event itself, as if it's happening autonomously. It's more objective, detached, and formal, often used to describe general conditions or atmospheres.
  • Example: Man tanzt hier gerne. (People like to dance here.) vs. Hier wird gerne getanzt. (Dancing is liked here / It's a place where dancing is enjoyed.)
  • Can an agent be expressed with von or durch in the impersonal passive?
Generally, no. The very purpose of the impersonal passive is to avoid mentioning an agent. If the agent were known and relevant enough to be specified with von (personal agent) or durch (impersonal cause/means), a different construction (often personal passive if applicable, or an active sentence) would typically be chosen.
Expressing an agent would contradict the impersonal nature of the construction.
  • Is the impersonal passive always formal?
While it can certainly lend a formal or objective tone, especially in official statements and reports, it is also very common in informal contexts. It's used casually to describe events, atmospheres, or to make general observations without necessarily sounding stiff. Context dictates the perceived formality.
  • Can I use the impersonal passive with verbs that express a state rather than an action?
No. The impersonal passive, like all passive constructions with werden, describes a process or an action. Verbs that describe a state (sein, bleiben, werden as "to become") cannot form a werden-passive, whether personal or impersonal.
For example, Es wird gewesen is ungrammatical. The Zustandspassiv (state passive) with sein can only be formed from a personal werden-passive and thus also implicitly requires a transitive verb.
  • How do I differentiate between an impersonal passive sentence and an active sentence where es is the subject?
The key is the Partizip II of the main verb and the form of werden (or sein in perfect tenses of passive). If you see werden (or ist/war/hat + worden/geworden) followed by a Partizip II of another verb, it's a passive construction. If es is the subject of an active verb (e.g., es regnet, es schneit), then es refers to the weather, or is a formal subject with verbs of natural phenomena, and it's an active sentence.
For example, Es wird kalt. (It is getting cold – active, werden here means "to become") vs. Es wird gelacht. (Laughter is happening – impersonal passive). The Partizip II is the crucial indicator.

Impersonal Passive Formation

Element Form Example
Placeholder
Es
Es
Auxiliary
wird
wird
Participle
Partizip II
getanzt
Result
Es wird...
Es wird getanzt

Meanings

The impersonal passive allows speakers to describe an action or state without specifying a subject, focusing entirely on the event itself.

1

General Activity

Describing what is happening in a general sense.

“Es wird getanzt.”

“Es wird gelacht.”

2

Rules and Regulations

Stating prohibitions or requirements.

“Es wird hier nicht geraucht.”

“Es wird um Pünktlichkeit gebeten.”

3

Atmospheric Conditions

Describing the general mood or state of a situation.

“Es wird über Politik diskutiert.”

“Es wird viel gestritten.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Impersonal Passive: Actions Without Subjects (Es wird getanzt)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Es + wird + Partizip II
Es wird gelacht.
Negative
Es + wird + nicht + Partizip II
Es wird nicht gelacht.
Question
Wird + es + Partizip II?
Wird gelacht?
Past Tense
Es + wurde + Partizip II
Es wurde gelacht.
Perfect
Es + ist + Partizip II + worden
Es ist gelacht worden.
Future
Es + wird + Partizip II + werden
Es wird gelacht werden.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Es wird das Rauchen untersagt.

Es wird das Rauchen untersagt. (Public sign)

Neutral
Es wird hier nicht geraucht.

Es wird hier nicht geraucht. (Public sign)

Informal
Hier wird nicht geraucht.

Hier wird nicht geraucht. (Public sign)

Slang
Rauchverbot!

Rauchverbot! (Public sign)

Impersonal Passive Components

Es wird...

Verb

  • tanzen to dance
  • lachen to laugh

Structure

  • Es Placeholder
  • wird Auxiliary

Passive vs. Impersonal Passive

Standard Passive
Das Buch wird gelesen. The book is read.
Impersonal Passive
Es wird gelesen. Reading is happening.
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Examples by Level

1

Es wird getanzt.

Dancing is happening.

2

Es wird gelacht.

There is laughter.

3

Es wird gespielt.

Playing is happening.

4

Es wird gegessen.

Eating is happening.

1

Es wird hier nicht geraucht.

Smoking is not allowed here.

2

Wird hier gearbeitet?

Is work happening here?

3

Es wird viel telefoniert.

There is a lot of calling.

4

Es wird heute nicht gelernt.

There is no studying today.

1

Es wird um Verständnis gebeten.

Understanding is requested.

2

Es wird über das Wetter gesprochen.

The weather is being discussed.

3

Es wird nach dem Schlüssel gesucht.

The key is being searched for.

4

Es wird viel gelaufen.

There is a lot of running.

1

Es wird von den Experten diskutiert.

It is being discussed by the experts.

2

Es wird auf die Antwort gewartet.

The answer is being waited for.

3

Es wird an einer Lösung gearbeitet.

A solution is being worked on.

4

Es wird über die Zukunft nachgedacht.

The future is being thought about.

1

Es wird in der Sitzung heftig gestritten.

There is heated arguing in the meeting.

2

Es wird von einer neuen Ära gesprochen.

A new era is being spoken of.

3

Es wird auf die Risiken hingewiesen.

The risks are being pointed out.

4

Es wird mit dem Schlimmsten gerechnet.

The worst is being expected.

1

Es wird von einer systemischen Krise ausgegangen.

A systemic crisis is assumed.

2

Es wird auf die Unzulänglichkeiten verwiesen.

Reference is made to the inadequacies.

3

Es wird über die Implikationen reflektiert.

The implications are being reflected upon.

4

Es wird nach den Ursachen geforscht.

The causes are being researched.

Easily Confused

German Impersonal Passive: Actions Without Subjects (Es wird getanzt) vs Man vs. Impersonal Passive

Both describe general actions, but 'man' implies people.

German Impersonal Passive: Actions Without Subjects (Es wird getanzt) vs Standard Passive vs. Impersonal

Standard passive has a subject, impersonal does not.

German Impersonal Passive: Actions Without Subjects (Es wird getanzt) vs Reflexive Verbs

Learners try to add reflexives to the passive.

Common Mistakes

✗

Es werden getanzt.

✓

Es wird getanzt.

The verb must be singular.
✗

Es wird das Buch gelesen.

✓

Das Buch wird gelesen.

Transitive verbs need a subject.
✗

Es tanzt.

✓

Es wird getanzt.

Missing passive auxiliary.
✗

Man wird getanzt.

✓

Es wird getanzt.

Man is not used in passive.
✗

Es wird gelacht von mir.

✓

Es wird gelacht.

Agent is usually omitted.
✗

Es wird essen.

✓

Es wird gegessen.

Must use participle.
✗

Es wird nicht tanzen.

✓

Es wird nicht getanzt.

Must use participle.
✗

Es wird das Problem gelöst.

✓

Das Problem wird gelöst.

Transitive verb error.
✗

Es wird viel Leute getanzt.

✓

Es wird viel getanzt.

No subject allowed.
✗

Es wird geschlafen werden.

✓

Es wird geschlafen.

Over-complicating tense.
✗

Es wird von den Leuten gearbeitet.

✓

Es wird gearbeitet.

Agent is redundant.
✗

Es wird das Haus gebaut.

✓

Das Haus wird gebaut.

Transitive verb error.
✗

Es wird sich gefreut.

✓

Es wird gefreut.

Reflexive error.
✗

Es wird die Arbeit erledigt.

✓

Die Arbeit wird erledigt.

Transitive verb error.

Sentence Patterns

Es wird ___ .

Es wird hier nicht ___ .

Wird hier ___ ?

Es wird über ___ gesprochen.

Real World Usage

Social Media common

Es wird heute viel gepostet.

Texting occasional

Es wird schon gefeiert.

Job Interview common

Es wird an neuen Strategien gearbeitet.

Travel common

Es wird um Geduld gebeten.

Food Delivery occasional

Es wird gerade gekocht.

Public Signage constant

Es wird um Ruhe gebeten.

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💡

Check Transitivity

Always check if your verb can take a direct object. If it can, use standard passive.
⚠️

No Plural

The verb 'wird' never changes to 'werden' in this construction.
🎯

Use for Signs

When writing formal rules, the impersonal passive is your best friend.
💬

Sound Objective

Use this structure to sound more professional and less personal.

Smart Tips

Use the impersonal passive to remove the 'I' or 'we' from your sentences.

Wir arbeiten an dem Projekt. → Es wird an dem Projekt gearbeitet.

Always use the impersonal passive for rules.

Bitte nicht rauchen. → Es wird um das Nichtrauchen gebeten.

Use it to describe the atmosphere.

Die Leute tanzen. → Es wird getanzt.

Use the passive to focus on the event.

Jemand hat gelacht. → Es wurde gelacht.

Pronunciation

es WIRD ge-TANZT

Intonation

The 'es' is usually unstressed, while the participle carries the main stress.

Statement

Es wird ge-TANZT.

Neutral declarative tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Es' as an empty chair. The action sits in the chair, but no one is there to claim it.

Visual Association

Imagine a dance floor with no people, but the floor is moving on its own. The sign above says 'Es wird getanzt'.

Rhyme

No subject in sight, 'Es' takes the light, 'wird' joins the fray, the action is on display.

Story

I walked into a room. No one was there. Yet, I heard music. I realized 'Es wird getanzt' (Dancing is happening) even without dancers. I felt like a ghost was leading the party.

Word Web

EswirdPartizip IIPassivIntransitivSubjektlos

Challenge

For the next 5 minutes, look around your room and describe actions using 'Es wird...' (e.g., 'Es wird gearbeitet' for your laptop).

Cultural Notes

Germans value objectivity. The impersonal passive is a way to state facts without personal bias.

Austrians use this often in formal settings to maintain a polite distance.

Swiss speakers often use this in formal correspondence to sound professional.

The impersonal passive evolved from the need to express actions without an agent in Old High German.

Conversation Starters

“

Wird hier viel gearbeitet?

“

Wird auf der Party getanzt?

“

Wird über das neue Gesetz diskutiert?

“

Wird in Ihrem Büro viel telefoniert?

Journal Prompts

Describe a busy street scene using the impersonal passive.
Write a list of rules for a library.
Describe a typical office day.
Reflect on a political debate you watched.

Common Mistakes

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'werden'.

Es ___ getanzt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wird
Third-person singular is required.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird getanzt.
Correct word order and conjugation.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Es werden gearbeitet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: werden
Should be 'wird'.
Transform to impersonal passive. Sentence Transformation

Man lacht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird gelacht.
Correct passive form.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Can you use impersonal passive with transitive verbs?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only intransitive verbs work.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Warum ist es so laut? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird gefeiert.
Correct passive usage.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

nicht / wird / es / geraucht

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird nicht geraucht.
Correct word order.
Match the verb to its participle. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: getanzt
Correct participle form.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'werden'.

Es ___ getanzt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wird
Third-person singular is required.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird getanzt.
Correct word order and conjugation.
Find the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Es werden gearbeitet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: werden
Should be 'wird'.
Transform to impersonal passive. Sentence Transformation

Man lacht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird gelacht.
Correct passive form.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Can you use impersonal passive with transitive verbs?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Only intransitive verbs work.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Warum ist es so laut? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird gefeiert.
Correct passive usage.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

nicht / wird / es / geraucht

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird nicht geraucht.
Correct word order.
Match the verb to its participle. Match Pairs

tanzen -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: getanzt
Correct participle form.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the missing word. Fill in the Blank

In diesem Restaurant ___ nur bar bezahlt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wird
Fix the case error. Error Correction

Der Lehrer wurde für seine Hilfe gedankt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dem Lehrer wurde für seine Hilfe gedankt.
Reorder the words to form a correct impersonal passive sentence. Sentence Reorder

wird / Es / gearbeitet / hart / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es wird hart gearbeitet.
Translate to German using the impersonal passive. Translation

There was a lot of partying yesterday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Pick the best option. Multiple Choice

How do you say 'He is being listened to'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ihm wird zugehört.
Match the active sentence to its impersonal passive equivalent. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Man tanzt. -> Es wird getanzt.
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

___ wird hier nicht parkiert.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es
Is this correct? 'Es wurde mir geglaubt.' Error Correction

Es wurde mir geglaubt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yes, it is correct.
Reorder: heute / gefeiert / wird / . Sentence Reorder

heute / gefeiert / wird / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Translate: 'A lot is being discussed on Twitter.' Translation

A lot is being discussed on Twitter.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, use 'Es wurde' + Partizip II. Example: 'Es wurde getanzt'.

Because 'lesen' is transitive. You need a subject for 'lesen'.

It can be both formal and neutral depending on the verb.

'Man' implies people; the passive implies the action itself.

No, reflexive pronouns are dropped in the passive.

Yes, especially in social contexts.

Then you should use the active voice instead.

Yes, but it becomes more complex: 'Es muss getanzt werden'.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

English partial

Passive voice with dummy subject

English cannot use passive for all intransitive verbs.

Spanish high

Se impersonal

German uses 'es' + 'werden' instead of 'se'.

French moderate

On

German passive is more formal than 'on'.

Japanese low

Passive voice

German impersonal passive is neutral.

Arabic low

Passive voice

German uses an auxiliary verb.

Chinese low

Topic-comment structure

German uses explicit passive markers.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
German State Passive: The 'Result' Mode (Zustandspassiv)
Next
Passive with Modals: It Must Be Done

Learn These First

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