Passiv (Präteritum & Perfekt) B2
Basic Explanation of Passive Voice (Passiv)
The passive voice (Passiv) is used when the focus is on the action being performed rather than who is performing it.
Passive vs. Active Voice
Active (Aktiv) | Passive (Passiv) |
Der Koch bereitet das Essen zu. (The cook prepares the food.) | Das Essen wird zubereitet. (The food is being prepared.) |
Jemand öffnet die Tür. (Someone opens the door.) | Die Tür wird geöffnet. (The door is being opened.) |
- Active voice: Focuses on who does the action.
- Passive voice: Focuses on what happens to the object.
How to Form Passive Voice
The basic passive structure in German: “werden” (conjugated) + Partizip II (past participle of the verb)
Example in Präsens (Present Passive)
Active (Aktiv) | Passive (Passiv) |
Der Lehrer erklärt die Regel. (The teacher explains the rule.) | Die Regel wird erklärt. (The rule is being explained.) |
When to Use the Passive Voice?
When the doer (subject) is unknown or irrelevant:
- Das Problem wird gelöst. (The problem is being solved. )
RWhen the action is more important than who does it: - Ein neues Gebäude wird gebaut. (A new building is being built. )
Passiv Perfekt (Present Perfect Passive)
The Perfekt Passive is used when talking about completed actions in the past.
Formation
“sein” (Perfekt) + Partizip II + worden”
Example Sentences
Active (Perfekt) | Passive (Perfekt) |
Der Mechaniker hat das Auto repariert. (The mechanic has repaired the car.) | Das Auto ist repariert worden. (The car has been repaired.) |
Die Polizei hat den Verdächtigen gefasst. (The police have caught the suspect.) | Der Verdächtige ist gefasst worden. (The suspect has been caught.) |
Der Lehrer hat die Prüfung korrigiert. (The teacher has corrected the exam.) | Die Prüfung ist korrigiert worden. (The exam has been corrected.) |
Key Points
- “sein” (ist/sind) is used in Perfekt.
- “worden” must be placed at the end.
- Used when the result of a past action is important.
Passiv Plusquamperfekt (Past Perfect Passive)
The Plusquamperfekt Passive describes actions that were completed before another past event.
Formation
“sein” (war/waren) + Partizip II + worden”
Example Sentences
| Active (Plusquamperfekt) | Passive (Plusquamperfekt) |
Der Mechaniker hatte das Auto repariert. (The mechanic had repaired the car.) | Das Auto war repariert worden. (The car had been repaired.) |
Die Firma hatte die Preise erhöht. (The company had raised the prices.) | Die Preise waren erhöht worden. (The prices had been raised.) |
Der Lehrer hatte die Prüfung korrigiert. (The teacher had corrected the exam.) | Die Prüfung war korrigiert worden. (The exam had been corrected.) |
Key Points
- “war/waren” (past perfect of “sein”) is used.
- “worden” always appears at the end.
- Used for actions that happened before another past event.
Nicht-Passivfähige Verben (Verbs That Cannot Form Passive)
Not all verbs in German can be transformed into passive voice. These are mainly:
Intransitive Verbs (No Accusative Object)
Verbs that do not take an accusative object cannot form a passive construction.
Examples
Verb (Infinitiv) | Aktiv (Perfekt) | Versuch im Passiv? | Warum nicht? |
schlafen (to sleep) | Er hat geschlafen. (He has slept.) | Q Er ist geschlafen worden. | Kein Akkusativobjekt |
gehen (to go) | Sie ist gegangen. (She has gone.) | Q Sie ist gegangen worden. | Kein Akkusativobjekt |
kommen (to come) | Er ist gekommen. (He came.) | Q Er ist gekommen worden. | Kein Akkusativobjekt |
Reflexive Verbs (Self-Referencing Actions)
Reflexive verbs cannot be used in passive.
Examples
Verb (Infinitiv) | Aktiv (Perfekt) | Versuch im Passiv? | Warum nicht? |
sich freuen (to be happy) | Ich habe mich gefreut. (I was happy.) | Q Ich bin gefreut worden. | Reflexives Verb |
sich waschen (to wash oneself) | Sie hat sich gewaschen. (She has washed herself.) | Q Sie ist gewaschen worden. | Reflexives Verb |