Passiv - The passive voice

📌 The passive voice (Passiv) is used when the action is more important than the subject performing the action.

The passive sentence emphasizes the process or state of something, rather than the person performing the action.

1. How to use the passive voice

When the action is more important than the subject performing it:

Das Buch wird gelesen.
(The book is being read.)

When you don't know or don't want to mention the person performing the action:

Das Auto wurde gestohlen.
(The car was stolen.)

In formal texts, announcements, or regulations:

Hier darf nicht geparkt werden.
(Parking is not allowed here.)

2. Direct object and indirect object

⚠️ Note

Note

🔹 An active sentence can have a direct object (Akkusativobjekt) or an indirect object (Dativobjekt).
🔹 Only the direct object (Akkusativ) can become the subject of a passive sentence.

2.1. Direct object (Akkusativobjekt)

Aktiv: Der Lehrer erklärt die Grammatik.
(The teacher explains the grammar.)

Passiv: Die Grammatik wird erklärt.
(The grammar is explained.)

2.2. Indirect object (Dativobjekt)

Aktiv: Der Lehrer gibt dem Schüler ein Buch.
(The teacher gives the student a book.)

Passiv: Ein Buch wird dem Schüler gegeben.
(A book is given to the student.)
(The Dativobjekt "dem Schüler" stays the same.)

2.3. The meaning of the object in a passive sentence

Das Buch wird von dem Lehrer gelesen.
(The book is read by the teacher.)

Die Tür wurde durch den Wind geöffnet.
(The door was opened by the wind.)

📌 "Von" is used when the agent is a person, "durch" is used when the agent is a non-human factor.

3. How to build a typical passive sentence in the present tense (Präsens)

ℹ️ Formula

💡 📌 Formula:

Subjekt (Akkusativ im Aktiv) + werden (Präsens) + Partizip II + (von + Urheber)

Aktiv (Active)	Passiv (Passive)
Der Lehrer erklärt die Regel. (The teacher explains the rule.)	Die Regel wird erklärt. (The rule is explained.)
Der Koch bereitet das Essen zu. (The cook prepares the food.)	Das Essen wird zubereitet. (The food is prepared.)

4. Active sentences without a direct object

Aktiv: Man hilft dem Kind.
(People help the child.)

Passiv: Dem Kind wird geholfen.
(The child is helped.)

📌 A Dativ object cannot become the subject in a passive sentence.
In some cases you can add a dummy subject "es".

5. Passive sentences with the dummy subject "es"

Aktiv: Man hat die Straße gesperrt.
(People closed off the street.)

Passiv: Es wurde die Straße gesperrt.
(The street was closed off.)

6. Two forms of the passive: Vorgangspassiv and Zustandspassiv

Type	Description	Example
Vorgangspassiv (process passive)	Emphasizes the process of the action	Das Buch wird gelesen. (The book is being read.)
Zustandspassiv (state passive)	Emphasizes the result/state	Das Buch ist gelesen. (The book has been read.)

📌 Vorgangspassiv uses werden, Zustandspassiv uses sein.

7. Passiv formulas by tense

🔹 Vorgangspassiv (process passive)

Tense	Formula
Präsens	werden (Präsens) + Partizip II
Präteritum	wurden (Präteritum) + Partizip II
Perfekt	ist/sind + Partizip II + worden
Plusquamperfekt	war/waren + Partizip II + worden
Futur I	wird + Partizip II + werden

🔹 Vorgangspassiv with Modalverben

ℹ️ Formula

💡 📌 Formula:

Subjekt + Modalverb + Partizip II + werden (Infinitiv)

Example:

Das Problem muss gelöst werden.
(The problem must be solved.)

🔹 Zustandspassiv (state passive)

ℹ️ Formula

💡 📌 Formula:

Subjekt + sein + Partizip II

Example:

Die Tür ist geöffnet.
(The door is open.)

🔹 Zustandspassiv with Modalverben

ℹ️ Formula

💡 📌 Formula:

Subjekt + Modalverb + Partizip II + sein (Infinitiv)

Example:

Das Haus muss renoviert sein.
(The house must be renovated.)

🎯 8. Summary

ℹ️ Note

💡

Only the Akkusativ object can become the subject in a passive sentence.
If there is only a Dativ object, it stays the same in the passive sentence.
Vorgangspassiv = process (werden), Zustandspassiv = state (sein).
Von indicates the person performing the action, durch indicates a non-human agent.
Passiv can be combined with Modalverben.

ℹ️ Exercise

Practice exercise

Apply what you just learned about the passive voice (Passiv):

📝 A2 exercise overview

Practice converting active sentences into passive sentences with werden and sein.