Table of Contents
Introduction
The German verb werden is versatile. It can act as a main verb meaning “to become,” and it also appears as an auxiliary verb in future tenses and passive structures. Mastering werden is crucial for sounding natural and building advanced sentences. If you want to compare it with other key verbs, see the verb sein (to be) or the verb haben (to have).
Conjugation of Werden
Below are the forms of werden in the present tense and simple past. Recognizing these helps you create main-clause statements, future tenses, and passive constructions easily.
Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | werde |
| du | wirst |
| er/sie/es | wird |
| wir | werden |
| ihr | werdet |
| Sie/sie | werden |
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | wurde |
| du | wurdest |
| er/sie/es | wurde |
| wir | wurden |
| ihr | wurdet |
| Sie/sie | wurden |
Usage of Werden
Werden appears in three main contexts:
Werden as a Main Verb (“to become”)
Sometimes werden stands alone with the meaning “to become,” indicating a change in state. It is used less frequently than in older or formal texts, but still appears in certain expressions.
Structure
Subject + form of werden + (optional other elements) + adjective/noun phrase
Example Sentences
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Er wird älter. | He is becoming older. |
| Sie wird berühmt. | She is becoming famous. |
| Ich werde müde. | I am getting tired. |
| Das Wetter wird besser. | The weather is getting better. |
| Die Situation wird kritisch. | The situation is becoming critical. |
Werden for Future Tense
Werden plus an infinitive indicates the future 1. German has Future I for “will do” and Future II for “will have done.” See
German future 1 and future 2 for more details.
Structure
Future I: Subject + form of werden + other elements + infinitive
Future II: Subject + form of werden + other elements + past participle + “sein/haben” (infinitive)
Example Sentences
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Ich werde morgen nach Berlin fahren. (Future I) | I will go to Berlin tomorrow. |
| Wir werden nächste Woche umziehen. (Future I) | We will move next week. |
| Er wird das Haus gebaut haben. (Future II) | He will have built the house. |
| Du wirst den Kurs beendet haben. (Future II) | You will have finished the course. |
| Die Kinder werden zu Hause geblieben sein. (Future II) | The children will have stayed at home. |
Werden in the Passive Voice
Passive forms often rely on werden plus a past participle (for passive in present, future 1+2 and simple past). This structure shifts the focus from the doer to the action or object. For more on passive forms, read this article: here.
Structure
Subject + form of werden + other elements + past participle
Example Sentences
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Das Haus wird von Peter gebaut. | The house is being built by Peter. |
| Der Brief wurde gestern verschickt. | The letter was sent yesterday. |
| Die Fenster werden morgen geputzt. | The windows will be cleaned tomorrow. |
| Die Pakete werden geliefert. | The packages are being delivered. |
| Das Problem wird schnell gelöst. | The problem is quickly solved. |
Tips and Tricks
- Pay attention to tense markers: “Werden + infinitive” forms the future, while “Werden + past participle” creates a passive.
- Watch for vowel changes: Du wirst, er/sie/es wird in present tense differ from the root “werd-.”
- Practice frequently: Combine “werden” with different verbs in future or passive to get comfortable with these forms.
- Compare to “sein” or “haben”: Understanding how sein and
haben function helps clarify how werden changes tense or voice.
Conclusion
The verb werden stands at the core of German grammar, whether you use it as a main verb meaning “to become,” an auxiliary in future tenses, or the key factor in forming passive. Knowing how it conjugates and how to apply it in different contexts will let you craft sentences that accurately depict time and voice. Keep practicing, and soon werden will feel natural in your daily German usage.
FAQ
Is “werden” regular or irregular?
Werden is considered irregular because it changes to wirst or wird in certain forms.
Does “werden” always mean “to become”?
No. As a main verb, it means “to become,” but it also functions as an auxiliary in future tenses and passive voice.
Are “werden” and “will” the same in English?
They can align in meaning for the future tense, but werden also has additional uses (passive, and “to become”).
How can I tell if “werden” indicates passive or future?
If there is a past participle, it is passive. If there is an infinitive, it is future. Context clarifies the meaning.
