Use of “werden” in Different Situations

The German verb “werden” is very versatile and can be used in several different contexts. Understanding its various uses is essential for mastering German grammar.

“Werden” as a Main Verb (Meaning “To Become”)

“Werden” means “to become” when used as a main verb. It describes a change of state. It is always followed by a noun or adjective (not another verb in the infinitive).

Conjugation of “werden” in the Present Tense

Examples:  

Ich werde Arzt.
I am becoming a doctor.

Du wirst langsam müde.
You are slowly getting tired.

Das Wetter wird kalt.
The weather is becoming cold.

Er wird immer ungeduldiger.
He is becoming more and more impatient.

Er wird alt.
He is becoming old.

Die Situation wird gefährlich.
The situation is becoming dangerous.

Tricky Case: “Es wird …” for Impersonal Expressions

Es wird dunkel.
It is getting dark.

Es wird spät.
It is getting late.

Es wird Zeit, nach Hause zu gehen.
It’s time to go home.

Rule: “Werden” as a main verb is used without another verb in infinitive form.

Use „immer“ with  „werden“

When „immer“ is used together with „werden“, it does not usually mean “always.”

Instead, it expresses:

• eine fortschreitende Entwicklung (a progressive development / a continuing development)
• eine zunehmende Steigerung (an increasing intensification / a growing increase)
• eine graduelle / progressive Veränderung über Zeit (a gradual change over time / a progressive change over time)

Struktur: Subjekt + wird/werden + immer + Komparativ

Examples:

Es wird immer schwieriger.
It is becoming increasingly difficult.

Die Situation wird immer komplizierter.
The situation is becoming more and more complicated.

Er wird immer selbstbewusster.
He is becoming increasingly confident.

Why does “immer” NOT mean “always” here? Normally “immer” means ALWAYS.  However, in this structure it functions as an adverbial intensifier, expressing progressive increase rather than repetition.

Comparison:

C1-Strukturen

Immer + Komparativ + werden

Die Anforderungen werden immer höher.
The requirements are becoming increasingly high.

Immer mehr + Nomen

Es werden immer mehr Menschen krank.
More and more people are getting sick.

Immer weniger

Es wird immer weniger Zeit.
There is less and less time.

“Werden” in the Future Tense

“Werden” is used to form the Future Tense (Futur I).

You want to emphasize a future action. There is uncertainty about the present or future. You want to make a promise, prediction or plan.

• Struktur: werden + infinitive verb

Formation of Futur I

Rue: The main verb is always in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.

• Future Tense vs. Present Tense for the Future
  Note: In spoken German, people often use the present tense to refer to the future:

Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
Tomorrow, I will go to Berlin.

Morgen werde ich nach Berlin fahren.
Tomorrow, I will go to Berlin.

“Werden” in the Future Perfect (Futur II)

“Werden” is also used to form the Future Perfect (Futur II).

Use Futur II when you want to guess something about the past.
The speaker is not sure and is only showing probability.
In this case, it does not really talk about the future. It talks about a past action that probably happened.

Futur II is also used to talk about something that will be finished at a certain time in the future.
Here, it really refers to the future and focuses on the result of the action.

• Struktur: werden + past participle + haben/sein

Formation of Futur II

Rule: Use “haben” for transitive verbs and “sein” for movement or change of state.