The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action itself rather than who is performing the action. It allows you to express what is being done without emphasizing the subject. In German, forming the passive voice involves specific rules for word order and verb conjugation. This lesson will teach you how to recognize, form, and use the passive voice effectively in German.
What You Will Learn
- What the passive voice is and when to use it.
- How to form the passive voice in the present, past, and future tenses.
- The role of “werden” in passive constructions.
- Sentence structure in the passive voice.
- Practice exercises to reinforce your understanding.
What is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice shifts the focus from the subject performing the action to the object receiving the action. In German, the passive is most commonly used in formal writing, instructions, or when the agent (the “doer”) is unknown or unimportant.
Examples in English and German:
- The book is read by the teacher. (Active: The teacher reads the book.)
- Das Buch wird von dem Lehrer gelesen.
- The house was built last year.
- Das Haus wurde letztes Jahr gebaut.
How to Form the Passive Voice
The passive voice in German is formed using:
- A conjugated form of the auxiliary verb “werden” (to become).
- The past participle of the main verb.
1. Present Tense Passive
- Formula: Subject + conjugated “werden” + past participle
- Example:
- Active: Der Lehrer liest das Buch. (The teacher reads the book.)
- Passive: Das Buch wird von dem Lehrer gelesen. (The book is read by the teacher.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation of “werden” | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | Ich werde informiert. (I am informed.) |
| du | wirst | Du wirst gelobt. (You are praised.) |
| er/sie/es | wird | Er wird gefragt. (He is asked.) |
| wir | werden | Wir werden gebeten. (We are asked.) |
| ihr | werdet | Ihr werdet gesucht. (You are sought.) |
| sie/Sie | werden | Sie werden verstanden. (They are understood.) |
2. Past Tense Passive
- Formula: Subject + conjugated “wurden” + past participle
- Example:
- Active: Der Lehrer las das Buch. (The teacher read the book.)
- Passive: Das Buch wurde von dem Lehrer gelesen. (The book was read by the teacher.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation of “wurden” | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | wurde | Ich wurde informiert. (I was informed.) |
| du | wurdest | Du wurdest gelobt. (You were praised.) |
| er/sie/es | wurde | Er wurde gefragt. (He was asked.) |
| wir | wurden | Wir wurden gebeten. (We were asked.) |
| ihr | wurdet | Ihr wurdet gesucht. (You were sought.) |
| sie/Sie | wurden | Sie wurden verstanden. (They were understood.) |
3. Future Tense Passive
- Formula: Subject + conjugated “werden” + past participle + “werden”
- Example:
- Active: Der Lehrer wird das Buch lesen. (The teacher will read the book.)
- Passive: Das Buch wird von dem Lehrer gelesen werden. (The book will be read by the teacher.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation of “werden” | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | Ich werde informiert werden. (I will be informed.) |
| du | wirst | Du wirst gelobt werden. (You will be praised.) |
| er/sie/es | wird | Er wird gefragt werden. (He will be asked.) |
| wir | werden | Wir werden gebeten werden. (We will be asked.) |
| ihr | werdet | Ihr werdet gesucht werden. (You will be sought.) |
| sie/Sie | werden | Sie werden verstanden werden. (They will be understood.) |
Indicating the Agent with “von” or “durch”
The agent performing the action is introduced by “von” (by) or “durch” (through) in the passive voice:
- Use von for people or specific agents:
- Das Buch wird von dem Lehrer gelesen. (The book is read by the teacher.)
- Use durch for means or instruments:
- Die Nachricht wurde durch die Zeitung verbreitet. (The news was spread through the newspaper.)
Passive Voice in Different Contexts
Impersonal Passive
When no specific subject is mentioned, the passive can be impersonal:
- Es wird viel gearbeitet. (A lot of work is being done.)
- Es wurde getanzt. (There was dancing.)
Modal Verbs in the Passive Voice
To use modal verbs in the passive, combine the modal verb, “werden,” and the past participle:
- Formula: Subject + modal verb + past participle + “werden”
- Example:
- Das Buch muss gelesen werden. (The book must be read.)
- Die Aufgabe sollte gemacht werden. (The task should be done.)
Common Mistakes in the Passive Voice
- Forgetting the correct form of “werden”:
- Incorrect: Das Buch wird gelesen hat.
- Correct: Das Buch wird gelesen.
- Misplacing the past participle:
- Incorrect: Das Buch wird gelesen von dem Lehrer.
- Correct: Das Buch wird von dem Lehrer gelesen.
- Confusing “sein” with “werden”:
- Incorrect: Das Buch ist gelesen.
- Correct: Das Buch wird gelesen.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Transform Active to Passive
Rewrite these active sentences in the passive voice:
- Der Lehrer erklärt die Grammatik.
- Die Kinder malen ein Bild.
- Sie haben das Problem gelöst.
- Wir werden das Haus renovieren.
Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences
Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form:
- Das Auto __________ (reparieren, present tense).
- Die Aufgabe __________ (machen, past tense).
- Die Briefe __________ (schreiben, future tense).
- Das Essen __________ (kochen, modal: müssen).
Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences
Translate these sentences into German:
- The house is being cleaned by the workers.
- The problem was solved by the team.
- The letter will be sent tomorrow.
- The task must be completed by the student.
Summary
In this lesson, you learned:
- How to form the passive voice in the present, past, and future tenses.
- The role of “werden” in passive constructions.
- How to indicate the agent using “von” or “durch.”
- Using modal verbs with the passive voice.
Homework
- Write 5 sentences in the passive voice using the present tense.
- Write 3 sentences with modal verbs in the passive voice.
- Practice transforming active sentences into passive ones.