German Passive Voice (Present Tense) - A Clear Tutorial
What is Passive Voice?
In general, the active voice tells you who or what is doing the action.
- Active: The boy kicks the ball. (The boy is doing the kicking)
The passive voice tells you what is being done, and often, who or what is receiving the action. The focus shifts away from the doer.
- Passive: The ball is kicked by the boy. (The ball is receiving the kicking)
In German, just like in English, we use the passive voice when:
- The doer (agent) is unknown or unimportant. (e.g., "The car is repaired.")
- We want to emphasize the action or the receiver of the action. (e.g., "The new law is discussed in parliament.")
- It's a general statement or instruction. (e.g., "Smoking is forbidden here.")
The Building Blocks of German Passive Voice (Present Tense)
To form the passive voice in present tense, you need two main ingredients:
- The verb "werden" (to become/to get) – conjugated in the present tense.
- The Past Participle (Partizip II) of the main verb.
1. "werden" (Conjugated in Present Tense)
This is the most important part. "werden" acts as the auxiliary (helping) verb for the passive voice.
| Pronoun | werden (Present Tense) |
|---|---|
| ich | werde |
| du | wirst |
| er/sie/es | wird |
| wir | werden |
| ihr | werdet |
| sie/Sie | werden |
2. The Past Participle (Partizip II)
This is the form of the verb that usually ends with "-t" or "-en" and often starts with "ge-". You might know it from forming the perfect tense (e.g., "Ich habe gegessen" - I have eaten).
- Regular verbs: ge- + verb stem + -t (e.g., machen → gemacht, kaufen → gekauft)
- Irregular verbs: These you just have to learn (e.g., lesen → gelesen, schreiben → geschrieben, sprechen → gesprochen)
- Verbs ending in -ieren: No ge-, just add -t (e.g., studieren → studiert, reparieren → repariert)
- Separable prefix verbs: ge- goes between the prefix and the stem (e.g., anrufen → angerufen)
- Inseparable prefix verbs: No ge- (e.g., besuchen → besucht, verstehen → verstanden)
Don't worry too much about all the participle rules right now. Just know that you need that specific form of the main verb. We'll provide it in the examples.
The Structure of a German Passive Sentence (Present Tense)
The basic word order for a passive sentence in German is:
Step-by-Step Conversion: Active to Passive
Let's take an active sentence and turn it into passive.
Active Sentence Example:
Der Koch kocht die Suppe.
- Subject (Doer): Der Koch (The cook)
- Verb: kocht (cooks)
- Direct Object (Receiver): die Suppe (the soup)
Step 1: Identify the Direct Object of the Active Sentence.
In "Der Koch kocht die Suppe," the direct object is die Suppe.
Step 2: Make the Direct Object the New Subject of the Passive Sentence.
Die Suppe... (The soup...)
Step 3: Conjugate "werden" to match the New Subject.
"Die Suppe" is singular (like "sie" - it). So, "werden" becomes wird.
Die Suppe wird...
Step 4: Form the Past Participle of the Main Verb.
The main verb is "kochen" (to cook). Its Past Participle is gekocht.
Step 5: Place the Past Participle at the very end of the sentence.
Die Suppe wird gekocht. (The soup is cooked.)
Congratulations! You've just formed a passive sentence.
Adding the "Doer" (Agent) to Passive Sentences
Sometimes, even in passive voice, you want to mention who is doing the action. In German, you use prepositions for this:
- "von" + Dative: Used for people or institutions (the agent).
- "durch" + Accusative: Used for means, causes, or instruments (the instrument).
Let's revisit our example:
- Active: Der Koch kocht die Suppe. (The cook cooks the soup.)
- Passive (without agent): Die Suppe wird gekocht. (The soup is cooked.)
- Passive (with agent):
Die Suppe wird von dem Koch gekocht.
(The soup is cooked by the cook.)
von + dem Koch (Dative case for "der Koch")
Another Example (with "durch"):
- Active: Ein Virus verursacht die Krankheit. (A virus causes the illness.)
- Passive (without agent): Die Krankheit wird verursacht. (The illness is caused.)
- Passive (with agent/cause):
Die Krankheit wird durch einen Virus verursacht.
(The illness is caused by a virus.)
durch + einen Virus (Accusative case for "ein Virus")
More Examples!
Let's convert some more active sentences to passive, step-by-step.
1. Active: Der Lehrer erklärt die Grammatik. (The teacher explains the grammar.)
- Subject (Doer): Der Lehrer
- Verb: erklärt
- Direct Object (Receiver): die Grammatik
- → Step 1 & 2 (New Subject): Die Grammatik
- → Step 3 (werden):
Die Grammatikis singular (likesie), so wird. - → Step 4 (Participle):
erklären(inseparable prefix) -> erklärt. - → Step 5 (Word Order): Die Grammatik wird erklärt. (The grammar is explained.)
- → With Agent: Die Grammatik wird von dem Lehrer erklärt. (The grammar is explained by the teacher.)
2. Active: Die Firma produziert viele Autos. (The company produces many cars.)
- Subject (Doer): Die Firma
- Verb: produziert
- Direct Object (Receiver): viele Autos
- → Step 1 & 2 (New Subject): Viele Autos
- → Step 3 (werden):
Viele Autosis plural (likesie), so werden. - → Step 4 (Participle):
produzieren(ends in -ieren) -> produziert. - → Step 5 (Word Order): Viele Autos werden produziert. (Many cars are produced.)
- → With Agent: Viele Autos werden von der Firma produziert. (Many cars are produced by the company.)
3. Active: Man liest viele Bücher. (One reads many books / Many books are read.)
- Subject (Doer): Man
- Verb: liest
- Direct Object (Receiver): viele Bücher
- → Step 1 & 2 (New Subject): Viele Bücher
- → Step 3 (werden):
Viele Bücheris plural, so werden. - → Step 4 (Participle):
lesen(irregular) -> gelesen. - → Step 5 (Word Order): Viele Bücher werden gelesen. (Many books are read.)
- *You usually don't add "von man" because the point of "man" is to be general/unknown. The passive already achieves that.
4. Active: Der Mechaniker repariert das Auto. (The mechanic repairs the car.)
- Subject (Doer): Der Mechaniker
- Verb: repariert
- Direct Object (Receiver): das Auto
- → Step 1 & 2 (New Subject): Das Auto
- → Step 3 (werden):
Das Autois singular, so wird. - → Step 4 (Participle):
reparieren(ends in -ieren) -> repariert. - → Step 5 (Word Order): Das Auto wird repariert. (The car is repaired.)
- → With Agent: Das Auto wird von dem Mechaniker repariert. (The car is repaired by the mechanic.)
Key Takeaways for Non-German Speakers:
- Focus on werden and the Past Participle. These are your two essential pieces.
- werden conjugates, the Past Participle stays at the end.
- The direct object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
- Use von + Dative for people/agents, durch + Accusative for means/causes.
- Practice makes perfect! Try converting simple active sentences you already know.
Don't be intimidated by the passive voice. Once you understand the role of "werden" and the Past Participle, it becomes much clearer!