B2 Verb Moods 16 min read Medium

German State Passive: The 'Result' Mode (Zustandspassiv)

Use 'sein' with a past participle to describe the final, completed state of an object.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The Zustandspassiv describes a state resulting from a completed action, focusing on the 'finished' result rather than the process.

  • Use the auxiliary verb 'sein' + past participle: 'Die Tür ist geschlossen.'
  • It describes a state, not an action: 'Das Fenster ist geöffnet' (it is open).
  • It is distinct from the 'Vorgangspassiv' (process passive) which uses 'werden'.
Subject + sein + Partizip II

Overview

In German grammar, understanding the distinction between an action and its resulting state is crucial for precise communication. The Zustandspassiv (state passive) serves this exact purpose: it describes the current condition or state of a subject as the result of a completed action, rather than focusing on the action itself or the agent performing it. While the Vorgangspassiv (process passive) with werden portrays an ongoing action or a process, the Zustandspassiv with sein presents a static snapshot, a finished state that persists.

It answers the question: "What is the current state?" and implicitly, "How did it get to be this way?" This grammatical construction allows speakers to emphasize the outcome, making the prior action or its performer secondary or entirely irrelevant to the current discourse. For instance, if you walk into a room and observe Die Tür ist geöffnet. (The door is open.), the Zustandspassiv perfectly captures this observation, highlighting the door's present condition without needing to specify who opened it or when the action occurred. This pattern reflects a fundamental linguistic tendency in German to clearly differentiate between dynamic processes and static results.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the Zustandspassiv functions much like an adjectival predicate. The Partizip II (past participle) of a transitive verb, when combined with a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb sein, describes a quality or characteristic of the subject. Consider the sentence Der Brief ist geschrieben. (The letter is written.).
Here, geschrieben does not denote an action unfolding; instead, it describes the state of der Brief—its written status. This is analogous to how a pure adjective functions, as in Der Brief ist fertig. (The letter is finished/ready.) or Der Brief ist lang. (The letter is long.). The Partizip II in the Zustandspassiv effectively acts as a resultative adjective, conveying that the subject possesses a quality derived from a completed action.
The auxiliary verb sein acts as the copula, linking the subject to this resultant state. The underlying action that caused this state is assumed to have happened at some point in the past, but the focus remains exclusively on the present (or past, or future) consequence. This makes the Zustandspassiv invaluable for situations where the outcome of an action is paramount, and the actor or the act itself is either unknown, self-evident, or intentionally de-emphasized.
For example, Das Auto ist repariert. (The car is repaired.) informs you about the car's operational status, implying a repair occurred, but not who performed it. Similarly, Die Lampen sind eingeschaltet. (The lamps are switched on.) communicates their current illuminating state.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of the Zustandspassiv is straightforward, involving two key elements: a conjugated form of the verb sein and the Partizip II of the main verb. The Partizip II always appears at the end of the clause and remains uninflected, meaning its form does not change based on gender, number, or case of the subject. Only the verb sein is conjugated to match the subject in person and number, and to express the desired tense.
2
1. Conjugation of sein
3
The auxiliary verb sein (to be) is conjugated according to the subject and the tense in which the state is being described.
4
| Person / Tense | Präsens (Present) | Präteritum (Past Simple) | Perfekt (Present Perfect) | Futur I (Future Simple) |
5
| :------------- | :------------------ | :------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :---------------------------- |
6
| ich | bin | war | bin gewesen | werde sein |
7
| du | bist | warst | bist gewesen | wirst sein |
8
| er/sie/es | ist | war | ist gewesen | wird sein |
9
| wir | sind | waren | sind gewesen | werden sein |
10
| ihr | seid | wart | seid gewesen | werdet sein |
11
| sie/Sie | sind | waren | sind gewesen | werden sein |
12
2. Formation of Partizip II
13
The Partizip II is the past participle of the main verb. Its formation depends on whether the verb is regular (weak), irregular (strong), or mixed, and if it has separable or inseparable prefixes.
14
Regular (Weak) Verbs: ge- + verb stem + -t
15
machen (to make) → gemacht
16
kaufen (to buy) → gekauft
17
sagen (to say) → gesagt
18
Irregular (Strong) Verbs: ge- + modified verb stem + -en
19
schreiben (to write) → geschrieben
20
sprechen (to speak) → gesprochen
21
sehen (to see) → gesehen
22
Mixed Verbs: ge- + modified verb stem + -t
23
bringen (to bring) → gebracht
24
kennen (to know) → gekannt
25
Verbs with Inseparable Prefixes: (be-, ge-, ent-, emp-, er-, miss-, ver-, zer-) No ge- prefix, use stem + -t or stem + -en
26
bezahlen (to pay) → bezahlt
27
verstehen (to understand) → verstanden
28
entdecken (to discover) → entdeckt
29
Verbs with Separable Prefixes: ge- is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem.
30
anrufen (to call) → angerufen
31
aufmachen (to open) → aufgemacht
32
Verbs ending in -ieren: No ge- prefix, just add -t.
33
reparieren (to repair) → repariert
34
installieren (to install) → installiert
35
Formula: Subject + conjugated sein + Partizip II (at the end)
36
Examples in different tenses:
37
Präsens: Die Aufgabe ist erledigt. (The task is done.)
38
Präteritum: Der Computer war ausgeschaltet. (The computer was switched off.)
39
Perfekt: Der Fehler ist behoben gewesen. (The error had been rectified.) Note: While grammatically correct, using war behoben (Präteritum of sein) is far more common for expressing past states resulting from an action, as ist gewesen can sound cumbersome.
40
Futur I: Die Ware wird morgen geliefert sein. (The goods will be delivered tomorrow.) This indicates a future state of completion. Using sein in the future tense with a Partizip II creates a predictive statement about a resultant state.

When To Use It

The Zustandspassiv is a powerful tool for conveying information efficiently and precisely in various contexts. Its primary function is to highlight the resultant state of an action, making it indispensable when:
  • Describing a current condition: This is its most common application. You use it when you want to report on how something currently is, without focusing on the process that led to it. For example, Das Geschäft ist geschlossen. (The shop is closed.), Die Rechnung ist bezahlt. (The invoice is paid.), Die Koffer sind gepackt. (The suitcases are packed.). These sentences immediately inform you about the existing status.
  • The agent of the action is unknown or irrelevant: Often, who performed the action is not important for the current context. The focus shifts entirely to the affected object. If Der Schaden ist behoben. (The damage is repaired.), the crucial information is that the damage no longer exists, not who repaired it. Similarly, Die Regeln sind bekannt. (The rules are known.) implies a general knowledge without needing to name the source.
  • Emphasizing readiness or completion: The Zustandspassiv is frequently used to indicate that something is ready or has reached a state of completion. Der Tisch ist gedeckt. (The table is set.) signifies that the table is prepared for a meal. Der Bericht ist geschrieben. (The report is written.) indicates its completion. This is common in project management or administrative updates.
  • In technical contexts and official announcements: Due to its impersonal and objective nature, the Zustandspassiv is pervasive in formal language, user interfaces, and public information. Think of messages like Die Software ist installiert. (The software is installed.), Der Flug ist verspätet. (The flight is delayed.), or Das System ist aktiv. (The system is active.). These convey statuses concisely.
  • Contrasting with an ongoing process: While the Vorgangspassiv (werden + Partizip II) describes an action in progress, the Zustandspassiv clearly marks the conclusion of that action. Der Text wird geschrieben. (The text is being written.) depicts the writing process, whereas Der Text ist geschrieben. (The text is written.) states that the writing is complete and the text exists as a finished product. This distinction is fundamental for precise temporal framing in German.
  • With reflexive verbs of change: Sometimes, verbs that express a change of state (often reflexive in German) can appear in a Zustandspassiv-like construction when the focus is on the object. For instance, while sich ändern (to change oneself) is typically intransitive, in certain contexts implying a result, one might encounter Die Situation ist geändert. (The situation is changed.) although Die Situation hat sich geändert. (The situation has changed.) or Die Situation ist verändert. (The situation is altered.) using a different participle are more common. This nuance is advanced and highlights the resultative aspect. Always prioritize transitive verbs for canonical Zustandspassiv.

Common Mistakes

Learners at the B2 level often grapple with the subtle yet significant distinctions between the Zustandspassiv and other German grammatical structures. Mastering these contrasts is key to achieving native-like fluency and avoiding miscommunication.
  • Confusing Zustandspassiv with Vorgangspassiv (werden-Passiv): This is arguably the most frequent error. The Vorgangspassiv describes the action or process itself, focusing on what is being done. The Zustandspassiv describes the resultant state after the action is complete. The auxiliary verb is the crucial differentiator.
  • Process: Das Fenster wird geöffnet. (The window is being opened / will be opened – action in progress or future action.)
  • State: Das Fenster ist geöffnet. (The window is open – the action of opening is finished, and this is the current condition.)
  • A useful heuristic: if you can replace the German construction with an English is being [verb-ed] or will be [verb-ed], it's likely Vorgangspassiv. If you can replace it with is [verb-ed] or is [adjective], it's Zustandspassiv.
  • Confusing Zustandspassiv with Perfekt (Perfect Tense): The Perfekt tense, formed with haben or sein + Partizip II, also describes a completed action. However, the Perfekt is an active voice construction that focuses on the agent who performed the action. The Zustandspassiv, conversely, is a passive voice construction focusing on the object's state.
  • Active (Perfekt): Ich habe das Auto repariert. (I have repaired the car. – Focus on my action.)
  • Passive (Zustandspassiv): Das Auto ist repariert. (The car is repaired. – Focus on the car's state; who repaired it is secondary.)
  • Another point of confusion arises with intransitive verbs of motion that use sein in the Perfekt, such as Ich bin gegangen. (I have gone.). While sein is used, this is not a Zustandspassiv. The Partizip II (gegangen) does not describe a state of the subject resulting from an action done to it, but rather a completed movement of the subject itself. Zustandspassiv requires a transitive verb that affects an object into a state.
  • Using Zustandspassiv with Intransitive Verbs: The Zustandspassiv can only be formed with verbs that can take a direct object (transitive verbs), as it describes the state of that object. Intransitive verbs (e.g., schlafen - to sleep, gehen - to go, lachen - to laugh) cannot form a Zustandspassiv because they do not have an object that can be put into a resultant state. You cannot say Die Person ist geschlafen or Der Weg ist gegangen. Always ensure the original verb is transitive.
  • Incorrect Partizip II Formation: Errors in forming the Partizip II (missing ge-, incorrect stem changes for strong verbs, or adding ge- to inseparable prefix verbs or -ieren verbs) will render the construction incorrect. For example, Das Buch ist les is ungrammatical; it must be Das Buch ist gelesen.
  • Declension of the Partizip II: When the Partizip II is part of the predicate in a Zustandspassiv construction, it remains uninflected at the end of the clause. However, if the Partizip II is used attributively (before a noun), it functions as a regular adjective and must decline to agree with the noun's gender, number, and case.
  • Uninflected (Zustandspassiv): Die Tür ist geschlossen. (The door is closed.)
  • Declined (Attributive Adjective): Die geschlossene die Tür. (The closed door.)
  • This is a critical distinction for advanced learners. Misinflection is a common indicator of a lack of understanding of the Partizip II's role in different grammatical contexts.

Real Conversations

Far from being a purely academic construct, the Zustandspassiv is deeply embedded in everyday German communication, providing a concise and efficient way to convey information about the state of things. Its presence is felt across various communication channels, from quick messages to formal announcements.

In Digital Communication (Texting, Social Media, Emails):

- Bin fertig. (I'm done/finished.) - A common, informal way to signal completion of a task. Often implies Ich bin fertig gemacht or Ich bin fertig geworden, but fertig acts adjectivally here.

- Alles ist vorbereitet. (Everything is prepared.) - Perfect for status updates in group chats or project emails, indicating readiness.

- Der Koffer ist gepackt. (The suitcase is packed.) - A practical statement for travel preparations.

- Die Nachricht ist gelesen. (The message is read.) - Commonly seen in messaging apps or read receipts.

In Professional and Administrative Contexts:

- Der Bericht ist fertiggestellt. (The report is completed.) - A standard phrase in office communication to report on project milestones.

- Das Problem ist gelöst. (The problem is solved.) - A reassuring statement to a client or colleague, focusing on the positive outcome.

- Der Termin ist verschoben. (The appointment is postponed.) - Essential for clear scheduling updates, found in emails or calendar notifications.

- Ihre Bestellung ist versandt worden. (Your order has been shipped.) - While versandt worden is a Vorgangspassiv in Perfekt, many e-commerce platforms simplify this to the Zustandspassiv for conciseness: Ihre Bestellung ist versandt. (Your order is shipped.)

In Everyday Situations:

- Der Laden ist geschlossen. (The shop is closed.) - A ubiquitous sign indicating business hours.

- Das Licht ist ausgeschaltet. (The light is switched off.) - A simple observation about the current environment.

- Die Wäsche ist gewaschen. (The laundry is washed.) - Communicating a completed household chore.

- Die Batterien sind aufgeladen. (The batteries are charged.) - Confirming readiness of electronic devices.

The widespread use of the Zustandspassiv highlights its utility in German. It allows speakers to deliver information about an object's status without needing to introduce an agent, thereby streamlining communication. This reflects a preference for objectivity and conciseness in German expression, particularly when the 'who' or 'how' of an action is less significant than its current tangible effect.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions regarding the German Zustandspassiv.
  • Q: Can the Zustandspassiv be used in all tenses?
  • A: Yes. The tense of the Zustandspassiv is determined by the conjugation of the auxiliary verb sein. You can use sein in Präsens (e.g., ist gemacht), Präteritum (e.g., war gemacht), Perfekt (e.g., ist gemacht gewesen), Plusquamperfekt (e.g., war gemacht gewesen), and Futur I (e.g., wird gemacht sein). The choice of tense for sein indicates when the resultant state exists or existed.
  • Q: Is the Zustandspassiv always about inanimate objects?
  • A: No. While it frequently describes states of objects, it can also refer to people. For example, Ich bin informiert. (I am informed.), Wir sind vorbereitet. (We are prepared.), or Die Kinder sind angezogen. (The children are dressed.) describe states pertaining to individuals.
  • Q: Can I use von or durch to mention the agent in Zustandspassiv?
  • A: Generally, no. The very essence of the Zustandspassiv is to de-emphasize or omit the agent. If you need to specify the agent, you are almost certainly describing the process (which requires Vorgangspassiv with werden and von or durch) or using an active construction. While extremely rare and often considered stylistically awkward, a phrase like Der Brief ist von mir geschrieben. might technically convey a state, but the Vorgangspassiv Der Brief wurde von mir geschrieben. or the active Ich habe den Brief geschrieben. would be far more natural and direct ways to attribute authorship.
  • Q: What is the difference between Das Fenster ist geöffnet and Das geöffnete Fenster?
  • A: Both use the Partizip II geöffnet, but their grammatical functions and positions differ. Das Fenster ist geöffnet. is a Zustandspassiv construction, where geöffnet is part of the predicate, describing the state of das Fenster. It is uninflected. Das geöffnete Fenster uses geöffnete as an attributive adjective modifying das Fenster. Here, geöffnete must decline to match the noun's gender, number, and case (here: nominative neuter singular). The meaning is similar, but the grammatical role is distinct.
  • Q: What about verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive? How do I know when to use Zustandspassiv?
  • A: You can only form the Zustandspassiv from the transitive usage of such a verb. For example, kochen can be intransitive (Das Wasser kocht. - The water boils) or transitive (Ich koche die Eier. - I boil the eggs). You cannot say Das Wasser ist gekocht in the Zustandspassiv sense of a result of boiling water, as kochen here is intransitive. However, you can say Die Eier sind gekocht. (The eggs are cooked/boiled.), because in this case, kochen is used transitively to act upon the eggs. Always ensure the verb used in the Partizip II is capable of taking a direct object that is being described in its resultant state.
  • Q: Is Zustandspassiv formal or informal?
  • A: The Zustandspassiv is neither inherently formal nor informal; it is a fundamental grammatical structure used across all registers of German. Its use depends entirely on what you want to emphasize: the result of an action. It appears in official documents, news reports, technical manuals, and casual conversations alike.
  • Q: Does Zustandspassiv have a direct equivalent in English?
  • A: English often expresses similar concepts using "be + past participle" (e.g., "The door is open," "The work is done"), but the grammatical mechanism isn't always identical, especially when distinguishing between process and state. English doesn't always make such a sharp morphological distinction using different auxiliary verbs for process vs. state passive as German does with werden vs. sein.
  • Q: Can Zustandspassiv be used with modal verbs?
  • A: No. Modal verbs express necessity, possibility, permission, etc., in relation to an action. The Zustandspassiv describes a state. You cannot combine a modal verb directly with the sein + Partizip II structure of the Zustandspassiv to create a modalized state. Instead, you would use a modal verb with the Vorgangspassiv to express modality regarding the action leading to a state (e.g., Der Brief muss geschrieben werden. - The letter must be written.) or use an adjective that describes the desired state (e.g., Der Brief muss fertig sein. - The letter must be ready.).

Zustandspassiv Conjugation (sein + Partizip II)

Person sein Partizip II
ich
bin
gemacht
du
bist
gemacht
er/sie/es
ist
gemacht
wir
sind
gemacht
ihr
seid
gemacht
sie/Sie
sind
gemacht

Meanings

The Zustandspassiv (stative passive) indicates that an action has been completed and we are now observing the resulting state of the object.

1

Resultative State

Focusing on the current condition of an object after an action.

“{die|f} Tür ist abgeschlossen.”

“{das|n} Licht ist ausgeschaltet.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German State Passive: The 'Result' Mode (Zustandspassiv)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + sein + Part II
Das Haus ist gebaut.
Negative
Subj + sein + nicht + Part II
Das Haus ist nicht gebaut.
Question
Sein + Subj + Part II?
Ist das Haus gebaut?
Past (Präteritum)
Subj + war + Part II
Das Haus war gebaut.
Future
Subj + wird + sein + Part II
Das Haus wird gebaut sein.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Die Tür ist geschlossen.

Die Tür ist geschlossen. (General)

Neutral
Die Tür ist zu.

Die Tür ist zu. (General)

Informal
Die Tür ist zu.

Die Tür ist zu. (General)

Slang
Tür ist dicht.

Tür ist dicht. (General)

Zustandspassiv Concept Map

Zustandspassiv

Focus

  • Result Outcome

Time

  • Static No movement
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Das Licht ist aus.

The light is off.

2

Die Tür ist zu.

The door is closed.

3

Der Tisch ist gedeckt.

The table is set.

4

Das Essen ist fertig.

The food is ready.

1

Das Fenster ist geöffnet.

The window is open.

2

Der Brief ist geschrieben.

The letter is written.

3

Die Aufgabe ist gelöst.

The task is solved.

4

Der Computer ist ausgeschaltet.

The computer is turned off.

1

Die Reservierung ist bestätigt.

The reservation is confirmed.

2

Das Auto ist repariert.

The car is repaired.

3

Die Rechnung ist bezahlt.

The bill is paid.

4

Der Vertrag ist unterschrieben.

The contract is signed.

1

Die Sicherheitsvorkehrungen sind getroffen.

The safety measures are taken.

2

Die Software ist installiert.

The software is installed.

3

Der Plan ist ausgearbeitet.

The plan is worked out.

4

Die Entscheidung ist gefallen.

The decision is made.

1

Die Anlage ist in Betrieb genommen.

The facility is commissioned.

2

Die Frist ist abgelaufen.

The deadline has expired.

3

Die Beweise sind gesichert.

The evidence is secured.

4

Die Struktur ist festgelegt.

The structure is established.

1

Die Weichen sind gestellt.

The course is set.

2

Die Verhandlungen sind abgeschlossen.

The negotiations are concluded.

3

Die Maßnahmen sind eingeleitet.

The measures are initiated.

4

Die Vorbereitungen sind getroffen.

The preparations are made.

Easily Confused

German State Passive: The 'Result' Mode (Zustandspassiv) vs Vorgangspassiv

Both use Partizip II.

Common Mistakes

✗

Das Haus wird gebaut (when it is already finished).

✓

Das Haus ist gebaut.

Using werden for a finished state.
✗

Das Fenster hat geöffnet.

✓

Das Fenster ist geöffnet.

Using haben instead of sein.
✗

Das Auto ist reparieren.

✓

Das Auto ist repariert.

Using infinitive instead of participle.
✗

Die Arbeit wird erledigt sein (when meaning it is currently done).

✓

Die Arbeit ist erledigt.

Using future perfect instead of present state.

Sentence Patterns

Die ___ ist ___.

Real World Usage

Office constant

Der Bericht ist fertiggestellt.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

Check the context

Ask yourself: is the action happening now or is it done?

Smart Tips

Use Zustandspassiv for a clean, professional tone.

Jemand hat das Licht ausgemacht. → Das Licht ist ausgeschaltet.

Pronunciation

ist ge-ÖFF-net

Emphasis

Stress the participle to emphasize the state.

Declarative

Das Fenster ist ↘geöffnet.

Finality and state.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Sein is the state, Werden is the action. If it's done, use 'sein' for the fun!

Visual Association

Imagine a light switch. If you see the switch in the 'off' position, that is 'sein'. If you see a hand moving the switch, that is 'werden'.

Rhyme

Ist es fertig, ist es sein, schließ den Zustand einfach ein.

Story

I walked into the kitchen. The cake was baked (Zustandspassiv). The table was set. Everything was ready for the party.

Word Web

seinPartizip IIZustandErgebnisfertigabgeschlossen

Challenge

Look around your room and write 5 sentences using the Zustandspassiv to describe the state of objects (e.g., 'Das Fenster ist offen').

Cultural Notes

Germans value precision. Using the Zustandspassiv shows you know the project is complete.

Derived from the Germanic 'be-in' construction.

Conversation Starters

“

Ist dein Zimmer schon aufgeräumt?

Journal Prompts

Describe your office or room after a long day.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Das Fenster ___ geöffnet.

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

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Das Fenster ___ geöffnet.

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

Score: /1

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Mein Handy ___ kaputt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ist
Translate to German using the state passive. Translation

The window is open.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Fenster ist geöffnet.
Put the words in the right order. Sentence Reorder

geschlossen / Laden / Der / ist / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Der Laden ist geschlossen.
Which one is a process, not a result? Multiple Choice

Identify the Action Passive:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Auto wird repariert.
Match the state to the action. Match Pairs

Match these pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: öffnen -> ist geöffnet
Fix the auxiliary verb. Error Correction

Die Wäsche hat gewaschen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Wäsche ist gewaschen.
Use the correct Partizip II. Fill in the Blank

Der Tisch ist ___. (decken)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gedeckt
Which sentence is plural? Multiple Choice

Pick the plural state passive:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Geschäfte sind geschlossen.
Reorder for a question. Sentence Reorder

angemeldet / du / Bist / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bist du angemeldet?
Translate to German. Translation

The files are saved.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Dateien sind gespeichert.

Score: /10

FAQ (1)

No, 'haben' is for active voice.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Estar + participio

German requires strict participle agreement.

French high

Être + participe passé

French has more complex reflexive passive forms.

Japanese partial

Te-iru form

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic low

Ism al-maf'ul

Arabic root system is unique.

Chinese low

Verb + le

Chinese has no conjugation.

English high

To be + past participle

English doesn't distinguish stative/dynamic as clearly.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Passive with 'durch': Explaining Means & Causes
Next
German Impersonal Passive: Actions Without Subjects (Es wird getanzt)

Learn These First

B2 Builds On

German Passive Voice: Focus on Action (werden-Passiv)

Overview Ever felt like you're doing all the work while everyone else just sits around? Well, in the world of German gra...

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Polite Wishes with 'möchten' (would like)

Ever felt like a total jerk when asking for a coffee in a foreign language? You're not alone. In German, saying "I want"...
B2

German Indirect Speech (Konjunktiv I): Reporting What Others Say

Overview German indirect speech, primarily expressed through the **Konjunktiv I** mood, is a sophisticated grammatical t...
B2

Reporting What Others Say: The Special Forms of "Being" (Konjunktiv I: sein)

Overview The German **Konjunktiv I** functions as a grammatical mood primarily used for **indirect speech** (Indirekte R...
B2

German Irrealis: Wishes and 'What-Ifs' (Konjunktiv II)

Overview German `Konjunktiv II`, often termed the **Irrealis**, represents the mood of unreality, possibility, and desir...
B2

Reporting What Others Said: Modal Verbs (Konjunktiv I)

Overview Konjunktiv I, specifically with modal verbs, is a critical grammatical mood in German primarily employed for **...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!