How to Use the Passive Voice in German

What is the Passive Voice?

The passive voice is used to emphasize the action being performed rather than the subject performing the action. In German, as in English, the passive is often employed to highlight the importance of the action itself, making it a crucial aspect of language learning.

Formulating the Passive Voice in German

To form the passive voice in German, the auxiliary verb "werden" is used, along with the past participle of the main verb. The structure is similar to English, but it's essential to remember the correct word order in German sentences.

Present Passive

For actions happening in the present, the structure is as follows: subject + werden (conjugated) + past participle. For example:

Past Passive

To express past actions in the passive voice, the appropriate form of werden is used in the past, along with the past participle: subject + wurde (or war) + past participle + von + agent (optionally). For example:

Future Passive

To talk about future actions passively, you'll use werden in future tense: subject + wird + past participle + werden. For example:

Common Mistakes

Why Learn Passive Voice?

Mastering the passive voice allows for more nuanced expression and clarity in communication. It enables learners to write and speak in ways that emphasize different aspects of a sentence, making it a crucial skill in advanced German language mastery.