The passive voice (Passiv) is used when the focus is on the action itself or the receiver of the action, rather than on who performs the action. The person or thing performing the action (the agent) is often unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context.
Examples:
- When the doer is unknown or unimportant:
- Das Auto wurde gestohlen. (The car was stolen.)
- In formal or scientific writing:
- Die Ergebnisse werden analysiert. (The results are being analyzed.)
- In instructions and recipes:
- Die Milch wird erhitzt. (The milk is heated.)
- To emphasize the action or result:
- Das Haus wurde 1920 gebaut. (The house was built in 1920.)
Formation of the Passive Voice
The passive voice in German is formed using the auxiliary verb werden + the past participle of the main verb:
Formation Pattern: subject + werden (conjugated) + past participle (at the end)
Comparison: Active vs. Passive
Active Voice | Passive Voice |
Der Lehrer erklärt die Grammatik.
(The teacher explains the grammar.) | Die Grammatik wird (vom Lehrer) erklärt.
(The grammar is explained [by the teacher].) |
Die Studenten lesen das Buch.
(The students read the book.) | Das Buch wird (von den Studenten) gelesen.
(The book is read [by the students].) |
Man baut das Haus.
(One builds/They build the house.) | Das Haus wird gebaut.
(The house is being built.) |
Passive Voice in Different Tenses
The tense of the passive voice is determined by conjugating the auxiliary verb werden in the appropriate tense, while the past participle of the main verb stays the same.
Present Tense Passive
Formation: present tense of werden + past participle
- Das Essen wird gekocht. (The food is being cooked.)
- Die E-Mails werden geschrieben. (The emails are being written.)
- Der Tisch wird gedeckt. (The table is being set.)
Simple Past Tense Passive (Präteritum)
Formation: simple past tense of werden + past participle
- Das Haus wurde 1920 gebaut. (The house was built in 1920.)
- Die Bücher wurden verkauft. (The books were sold.)
- Der Brief wurde gestern geschickt. (The letter was sent yesterday.)
Present Perfect Tense Passive (Perfekt)
Formation: present tense of sein + past participle + worden
Important: In the passive perfect tense, use worden instead of geworden (the past participle of werden loses its ge- prefix).
- Ich bin gefragt worden. (I have been asked.)
- Das Auto ist repariert worden. (The car has been repaired.)
- Die Häuser sind gebaut worden. (The houses have been built.)
- Der Film ist gesehen worden. (The film has been seen.)
Past Perfect Tense Passive (Plusquamperfekt)
Formation: simple past of sein + past participle + worden
- Ich war gefragt worden. (I had been asked.)
- Das Haus war verkauft worden. (The house had been sold.)
- Die Aufgaben waren gemacht worden. (The tasks had been done.)
Future Tense Passive (Futur I)
Formation: present tense of werden + past participle + werden (infinitive)
- Ich werde gefragt werden. (I will be asked.)
- Das Auto wird repariert werden. (The car will be repaired.)
- Die Briefe werden geschickt werden. (The letters will be sent.)
Expressing the Agent (By Whom?)
If you also want to mention who or what performs the action in a passive sentence, you can use:
von + Dative (by someone/something)
Use von + dative to indicate the person or thing performing the action:
German | English |
Das Buch wird vom Lehrer erklärt. | The book is explained by the teacher. |
Der Brief wurde von Maria geschrieben. | The letter was written by Maria. |
Das Haus wurde von einem Architekten entworfen. | The house was designed by an architect. |
durch + Accusative (by means of/through)
Use durch + accusative to indicate the means or intermediary agent:
German | English |
Die Nachricht wird durch einen Boten überbracht. | The message is delivered by a messenger. |
Die Stadt wurde durch einen Sturm zerstört. | The city was destroyed by a storm. |
Das Problem wurde durch Zufall entdeckt. | The problem was discovered by chance. |
mit + Dative (with/using)
Use mit + dative to indicate the instrument or tool used:
German | English |
Der Brief wurde mit einem Stift geschrieben. | The letter was written with a pen. |
Das Brot wird mit einem Messer geschnitten. | The bread is cut with a knife. |
Die Tür wurde mit einem Schlüssel geöffnet. | The door was opened with a key. |
Passive Voice with Modal Verbs
When using modal verbs in the passive voice, the structure is:
Formation: modal verb (conjugated) + past participle + werden (infinitive)
Modal Verb | German Example | English Translation |
können (can) | Das kann gemacht werden. | That can be done. |
müssen (must) | Die Arbeit muss erledigt werden. | The work must be completed. |
sollen (should) | Der Brief soll geschickt werden. | The letter should be sent. |
dürfen (may) | Das darf nicht vergessen werden. | That may not be forgotten. |
Passive with Separable Verbs
With separable verbs, the prefix remains attached to the verb in the past participle form:
Infinitive | Passive Example | Translation |
aufmachen (to open) | Die Tür wird aufgemacht. | The door is being opened. |
einladen (to invite) | Ich werde eingeladen. | I am being invited. |
abholen (to pick up) | Er wird abgeholt. | He is being picked up. |
vorbereiten (to prepare) | Das Essen wird vorbereitet. | The food is being prepared. |
When NOT to Use Passive
Some verbs cannot or should not be used in the passive voice:
Verbs that typically don't work in passive:
- Intransitive verbs (verbs without a direct object): schlafen (to sleep), lachen (to laugh)
- Reflexive verbs: sich freuen (to be happy)
- Verbs like haben (to have), bekommen (to receive), kennen (to know)
Instead of passive with these verbs, German often uses:
- man + active voice: Man öffnet die Tür um 9 Uhr. (One opens the door at 9 o'clock.)
- sich lassen construction: Das lässt sich machen. (That can be done.)