B2 · 中高级 章节 17

The Passive Voice: Focusing on the Action

8 总规则
82 例句
7 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

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.

你将学到什么

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.

章节指南

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.

关键例句 (8)

1

Das Video wird gerade auf YouTube hochgeladen.

这个视频正在上传到YouTube。

德语被动语态：关注动作本身 (werden-Passiv)
2

Der Termin wurde wegen der Zoom-Probleme verschoben.

因为Zoom问题，会议被推迟了。

德语被动语态：关注动作本身 (werden-Passiv)
3

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

这封邮件由女老板签署。

是谁做的？被动语态中的施动者 'von'
4

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

这个视频被数百万人观看。

是谁做的？被动语态中的施动者 'von'
5

Die Hausaufgaben sind gemacht.

作业做完了。

德语状态被动语态：'结果'模式 (Zustandspassiv)
6

Der Laptop ist ausgeschaltet.

笔记本电脑关机了。

德语状态被动语态：'结果'模式 (Zustandspassiv)
7

Es wurde bis spät in die Nacht getanzt.

大家一直跳舞跳到深夜。

德语无人称被动语态：没有主语的动作 (Es wird getanzt)
8

Ihm wird von allen Kollegen geholfen.

所有的同事都在帮助他。

德语无人称被动语态：没有主语的动作 (Es wird getanzt)

技巧与窍门 (4)

⚠️

“Geworden”的陷阱

在被动语态里，永远不要用“geworden”，要用“worden”！举个例子，你想说你感到疲惫，那用主动语态：
Ich bin müde geworden
，但如果你说你被提问了，就用被动语态：
Ich bin gefragt worden
。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语被动语态：关注动作本身 (werden-Passiv)
🎯

“片尾字幕”法则

想象你在看电影片尾字幕。如果能想象名字出现在“导演：XXX”后面，那就用 'von'。比如，你想说“这部电影是史蒂文·斯皮尔伯格导演的”，你会说：
Dieser Film wurde von Steven Spielberg inszeniert.
但如果是“暴风雨”或“事故”造成的，就用 'durch'。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 是谁做的？被动语态中的施动者 'von'
🎯

邮递员规则

如果强调的是“人”作为传递者，用 von。但如果强调的是“邮政系统”或“快递车”这个媒介，就用 durch。比如：
Der Brief wurde von dem Postboten gebracht.
（信是邮递员送来的），但
Die Sendung wurde durch die Post transportiert.
（包裹是通过邮政运输的）。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 带 'durch' 的被动语态：解释手段与原因
🎯

形容词小技巧

如果你能把这里的过去分词替换成“绿色”或“坏了”这样的形容词，那它很可能就是状态被动语态！比如形容窗户是关着的，跟形容窗户是绿色的感觉很像：“Das Fenster ist geschlossen.”
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语状态被动语态：'结果'模式 (Zustandspassiv)

核心词汇 (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

常见错误

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)
正确: 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.
正确: 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.
正确: Das Haus muss gebaut werden.

本章规则 (8)

1

德语被动语态：关注动作本身 (werden-Passiv)

B2
德语被动语态用“werden”来强调“动作”本身，而不是“谁”做了这个动作。
Das Video wird gerade auf YouTube hochgeladen.
10 例句
2

是谁做的？被动语态中的施动者 'von'

B2
所以，当你需要在被动语态中点明“施动者”时，记住你的小帮手就是 von，后面要跟 Dativ，通常用来指“人”、“动物”或“机构”。
Die {die|f} E-Mail wurde von der {die|f} Chefin un...
12 例句
3

带 'durch' 的被动语态：解释手段与原因

B2
用 durch 来表示“怎么”发生的（途径/原因），用 von 来表示“谁”做的（执行者）。
Die Nachricht wurde durch das Internet verbreitet.
10 例句
4

德语状态被动语态：'结果'模式 (Zustandspassiv)

B2
你有三个小助手，用“sein”和“Partizip II”来描述一个物体“已完成”的最终状态。
Die Hausaufgaben sind gemacht.
10 例句
5

德语无人称被动语态：没有主语的动作 (Es wird getanzt)

B2
当你想要描述某种“氛围”或“正在发生的动作”，而不需要一个具体的人来当主语时，就用无人称被动语态。核心就是 es wird、wurde 和 geholfen 这些表达方式。
Es wurde bis spät in die Nacht getanzt.
10 例句
6

带情态动词的被动语态：必须完成 (Modal + Passiv)

B2
想要表达“必须”、“可以”或“应该”完成某事？很简单，只要把情态动词变位，然后把 Partizip II + werden 放在句末就可以了！
{Das|n} Handy muss aufgeladen werden.
10 例句
7

反身被动："sich lassen" 与被动替代结构

B2
你有几种“魔法工具”：用sich lassen或者反身动词加上副词，就能优雅地表达被动语态的可能性，而且不需要用到werden哦！
Das Passwort lässt sich ganz einfach in den Einste...
10 例句
8

用 `man` 替代被动语态 (用 '人们/大家' 代替被动表达)

B2
告别生硬的被动语态，用 man 加上动词的 «第三人称单数» 形式，让你的德语表达更 «自然»、更 «活跃»！
In dieser Bar trinkt man meistens Craft-Beer.
10 例句

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

快速练习 (10)

选择正确句子

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Buch liest sich sehr interessant.
中动结构需要反身代词'sich'，并且通常需要一个副词（interessant）。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 反身被动："sich lassen" 与被动替代结构

用“sein”的正确形式填空。

Die Koffer ___ gepackt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sind
“Die Koffer”是复数，所以我们用“sind”。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语状态被动语态：'结果'模式 (Zustandspassiv)

哪个句子正确描述了正在进行的动作？

选择正确的被动语态句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Auto wird repariert.
“wird repariert”（过程被动）描述的是正在发生的动作。“ist repariert”（状态被动）描述的是完成后的状态。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语被动语态：关注动作本身 (werden-Passiv)

找出并修正错误

Find and fix the mistake:

Die {die|f} App wird sich nicht installieren.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die App lässt sich nicht installieren.
错误在于将表示可能性的被动替代语动词'lässt'错用成了'wird'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 反身被动："sich lassen" 与被动替代结构

请填入正确的介词（von 或 durch）和冠词。

Die Pizza wurde ______ {der|m} Lieferdienst gebracht.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: von dem
因为“送货服务”（Lieferdienst）是一个像人一样行动的主动执行者/组织，所以用 von 更合适。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 带 'durch' 的被动语态：解释手段与原因

填入正确的词。

Das Ticket muss vor dem Einsteigen gescannt ________.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: werden
在含有情态动词的被动句中，werden 始终保持不定式形式，位于句子的最末尾。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 带情态动词的被动语态：必须完成 (Modal + Passiv)

找出并改正这个状态被动语态句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

Das Licht ist ausschaltet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Das Licht ist ausgeschaltet.
“ausschalten”的第二分词是“ausgeschaltet”。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语状态被动语态：'结果'模式 (Zustandspassiv)

用 `man` 的正确形式填空。

In Deutschland ___ (essen) man viel {die|f} Wurst.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: isst
man 总是搭配动词的第三人称单数形式。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 用 `man` 替代被动语态 (用 '人们/大家' 代替被动表达)

找出并改正情态动词被动语态中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

Die Tür muss geschlossen wird.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Tür muss geschlossen werden.
当情态动词和被动语态一起使用时，结构是情态动词 + 第二分词 + werden（不定式）。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语被动语态：关注动作本身 (werden-Passiv)

哪个句子是正确的？

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Die Stadt wurde durch ein Erdbeben zerstört.
对于自然力量或非生命原因，被动语态中正确的介词是 'durch'，而不是 'von'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 是谁做的？被动语态中的施动者 'von'

Score: /10

常见问题 (6)

德语在表达动作的“过程”和“结果”时是有区别的。“werden”强调动作正在进行或发生变化（比如“汽车正在被修理”），而“sein”则强调动作完成后的状态（比如“汽车已经被修好了”）。
如果行动者是人，我们用“von”加第三格。如果是非人为的原因，比如自然灾害，那就用“durch”加第四格。举例来说，von der Lehrerin（老师做的）和durch den Wind（风引起的）就是不同的用法。
当然可以！但你必须用第三格形式。比如 von mir (由我), von dir (由你), von ihm (由他) 等等。例如：你想说“这个礼物是我买的”，可以这样说：
Das Geschenk wurde von mir gekauft.
vom 只是 von + dem (阳性或中性第三格) 的缩写形式。在口语德语中，vom 更常用，听起来更自然。
可以！例如：'Das Haus wurde von dem Architekten durch moderne Technik gebaut.'（这座房子是由建筑师通过现代技术建造的）。
因为灾害被视为原因或力量，而不是有自我意识的“执行者”。
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