Passive in Perfect Tense
The passive voice in the perfect tense uses 'worden' (the past participle of 'werden') as the auxiliary verb.
Note: 'worden' is used instead of 'geworden' in passive constructions.
This lesson covers how to form and use the passive voice in the perfect tense.
Explanation
Form: sein (conjugated) + past participle + worden. The verb 'sein' is conjugated, and 'worden' stays in its infinitive form.
Conjugation: ich bin ... worden, du bist ... worden, er/sie/es ist ... worden, wir sind ... worden, ihr seid ... worden, sie sind ... worden.
Example: 'Das Buch ist gelesen worden' (The book has been read / was read).
Important: In passive perfect, use 'worden', not 'geworden'. 'Geworden' is only used when 'werden' means 'to become'.
Passive Formation - Perfect Tense
| Subject | sein (conjugated) | Past Participle | worden | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | gelesen | worden | Ich bin gelesen worden | I have been read |
| du | bist | gelesen | worden | Du bist gelesen worden | You have been read |
| er/sie/es | ist | gelesen | worden | Das Buch ist gelesen worden | The book has been read |
| wir | sind | gelesen | worden | Wir sind gelesen worden | We have been read |
| ihr | seid | gelesen | worden | Ihr seid gelesen worden | You have been read |
| sie | sind | gelesen | worden | Sie sind gelesen worden | They have been read |
Examples
Das Buch ist gelesen worden.
The book has been read.
Die Tür ist geöffnet worden.
The door has been opened.
Das Auto ist repariert worden.
The car has been repaired.
Das Haus ist von dem Architekten gebaut worden.
The house has been built by the architect.
Der Brief ist durch die Post geschickt worden.
The letter has been sent through the mail.
Common Mistakes
Das Buch ist gelesen geworden
Das Buch ist gelesen worden
In passive perfect, use 'worden', not 'geworden'. 'Geworden' is only when 'werden' means 'to become'.
Das Buch hat gelesen worden
Das Buch ist gelesen worden
Passive perfect uses 'sein', not 'haben', as the auxiliary verb.
Das Buch ist lesen worden
Das Buch ist gelesen worden
Passive requires the past participle of the main verb. Use 'gelesen', not 'lesen'.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.