Mastering the German Passive: A Clear Guide to Passive Voice in German

Introduction to the German Passive

The German passive voice describes actions without focusing on who performs them. Instead, it highlights the action itself or its result. By using the passive, speakers can shift attention from the agent to the object of the action. This style is common in formal texts, reports, or instructions.

How to Form the German Passive

To form the passive, start with an active sentence. In the passive form, the accusative object of the active sentence becomes the nominative subject. The original nominative subject (the active doer) either disappears or becomes a dative object. Dative objects in the active sentence remain dative in the passive sentence.

For example, consider the sentence: “Der Mann reinigt den Kühlschrank.” (The man cleans the fridge.)

• Active: Nominative: Der Mann | Accusative: den Kühlschrank
• Passive: Nominative: Der Kühlschrank | Dative: (von dem Mann) stays optional as an agent phrase

Thus, the passive form is: “Der Kühlschrank wird (von dem Mann) gereinigt.” (The fridge is being cleaned by the man.)

The German passive generally uses forms of “werden” plus a past participle for the process (Vorgangspassiv) or forms of “sein” plus a past participle for the state (Zustandspassiv).

In the Vorgangspassiv, “werden” indicates an ongoing process. In the Zustandspassiv, “sein” indicates the resulting state after an action is completed.

Vorgangspassiv vs. Zustandspassiv

The Vorgangspassiv focuses on the process of an action. For example: “Der Kühlschrank wird gereinigt.” (The fridge is being cleaned.)

The Zustandspassiv focuses on the state after the action. For example: “Der Kühlschrank ist gereinigt.” (The fridge is cleaned.)

Speakers use the Vorgangspassiv more often than the Zustandspassiv. The Zustandspassiv often appears less frequently in everyday speech.

German Passive Tenses (Vorgangspassiv)

The Vorgangspassiv uses normally a form of “werden” plus a past participle. Different tenses indicate different time frames. There are a few exceptions to which we will come.

Vorgangspassiv Present

Form: “werden” (conjugated) + Past Participle

Example: “Das Auto wird von dem Mann gereinigt.” (The car is being cleaned by the man.)

Vorgangspassiv Future I

Form: “werden” (conjugated) + von + dative object (optional) + Past Participle + “werden” (infinitive)

Example: “Das Auto wird von dem Mann gereinigt werden.” (The car will be cleaned by the man.)

Vorgangspassiv Perfect

Form: “sein” (conjugated) + von + dative object (optional) + Past Participle + “worden”

Example: “Das Auto ist von dem Mann gereinigt worden.” (The car has been cleaned by the man.)

Vorgangspassiv Past Perfect

Form: “waren” (conjugated) + von + dative object (optional) + Past Participle + “worden”

Example: “Das Auto war von dem Mann gereinigt worden.” (The car had been cleaned by the man.)

Vorgangspassiv Simple Past

Form: “wurden” (conjugated) + von + dative object (optional) + Past Participle

Example: “Das Auto wurde von dem Mann gereinigt.” (The car was cleaned by the man.)

Vorgangspassiv Future Perfect

Form: “werden” (conjugated) + von + dative object + Past Participle + “worden” + “sein” (infinitive)

Example: “Das Auto wird von dem Mann gereinigt worden sein.” (The car will have been cleaned by the man.)

German Passive Tenses (Zustandspassiv)

The Zustandspassiv uses forms of “sein” plus a past participle to describe a state resulting from an action.

Zustandspassiv Present

Example: “Der Kühlschrank ist gereinigt.” (The fridge is cleaned.)

Zustandspassiv Simple Past

Example: “Der Kühlschrank war gereinigt.” (The fridge was cleaned.)

Zustandspassiv Perfect

Form: “sein” (conjugated) + Past Participle + “gewesen”

Example: “Der Kühlschrank ist gereinigt gewesen.” (The fridge has been cleaned.)

Zustandspassiv Past Perfect

Form: “waren” (conjugated) + Past Participle + “gewesen”

Example: “Der Kühlschrank war gereinigt gewesen.” (The fridge had been cleaned.)

Zustandspassiv Futur I

Form: “werden” (conjugated) + Past Participle + “sein”

Example: “Der Kühlschrank wird gereinigt sein.” (The fridge will be cleaned.)

Zustandspassiv Futur II

Form: “werden” (conjugated) + Past Participle + “gewesen” + “sein”

Example: “Der Kühlschrank wird gereinigt gewesen sein.” (The fridge will have been cleaned.)

Passive with Modal Verbs in German

How to Form the Passive with Modal Verbs

In German, passive voice can be used with modal verbs to describe actions that need to be done, are allowed, or should happen.

This structure emphasizes the action itself rather than who performs it. It is most commonly used in the present tense and the simple past.

Passive with Modal Verbs in the Present Tense

Structure:
Subject + modal verb (conjugated) + past participle + werden (infinitive)

Examples:

• Das Auto muss repariert werden. → The car must be repaired.
• Die Wohnung kann gemietet werden. → The apartment can be rented.
• Die Regeln sollen beachtet werden. → The rules should be followed.

Passive with Modal Verbs in the Simple Past

Structure:
Subject + modal verb (past form) + past participle + werden (infinitive)

Examples:

• Das Problem musste gelöst werden. → The problem had to be solved.
• Die Briefe konnten verschickt werden. → The letters could be sent.
• Die Aufgaben sollten gestern erledigt werden. → The tasks were supposed to be completed yesterday.

For more details on using passive with modal verbs in different tenses, check out the German Passive with Modal Verbs Guide.

Conclusion

The German passive voice shifts focus from the subject to the action or its result. By mastering Vorgangspassiv and Zustandspassiv, learners can describe actions more flexibly. Understanding these forms and their tenses helps produce clear, direct, and neutral statements.

FAQ

When do I use Vorgangspassiv versus Zustandspassiv?

Use Vorgangspassiv to describe ongoing actions. Use Zustandspassiv to describe resulting states.

Do I need a dative object with “von”?

Only if you want to mention who performed the action. Otherwise, you can omit it.

Are all these tenses common in everyday speech?

Some tenses, especially future and perfect forms of Zustandspassiv, are rare in daily conversations.

Does passive voice make sentences less direct?

Often yes. Speakers use passive forms to sound more neutral or to focus on the action itself.