Passive in Present Tense
The passive voice in the present tense is formed using 'werden' (to become) as the auxiliary verb.
In passive constructions, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and the original subject (the agent) can be omitted or introduced with 'von' or 'durch'.
This lesson covers how to form and use the passive voice in the present tense.
Explanation
Form: werden + past participle. The verb 'werden' is conjugated according to the subject: ich werde, du wirst, er/sie/es wird, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie werden.
Example: 'Das Buch wird gelesen' (The book is being read) from active 'Man liest das Buch' (One reads the book).
The agent (who performs the action) can be added with 'von' (by) for people or 'durch' (by/through) for things or means: 'Das Buch wird von dem Schüler gelesen' (The book is being read by the student).
In German, the passive is often used when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context.
Passive Formation - Present Tense
| Subject | werden (conjugated) | Past Participle | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | werde | gelesen | Ich werde gelesen | I am being read |
| du | wirst | gelesen | Du wirst gelesen | You are being read |
| er/sie/es | wird | gelesen | Das Buch wird gelesen | The book is being read |
| wir | werden | gelesen | Wir werden gelesen | We are being read |
| ihr | werdet | gelesen | Ihr werdet gelesen | You are being read |
| sie | werden | gelesen | Sie werden gelesen | They are being read |
Examples
Das Buch wird gelesen.
The book is being read.
Die Tür wird geöffnet.
The door is being opened.
Das Auto wird repariert.
The car is being repaired.
Das Haus wird von dem Architekten gebaut.
The house is being built by the architect.
Der Brief wird durch die Post geschickt.
The letter is being sent through the mail.
Die Aufgabe wird gelöst.
The task is being solved.
Common Mistakes
Das Buch wird lesen
Das Buch wird gelesen
Passive requires the past participle, not the infinitive. Use 'gelesen', not 'lesen'.
Das Buch ist gelesen
Das Buch wird gelesen
For process passive (action in progress), use 'werden', not 'sein'. 'Sein' is for state passive.
Das Buch wird von der Schüler gelesen
Das Buch wird von dem Schüler gelesen
With 'von', use dative case. Masculine 'Schüler' becomes 'dem Schüler' in dative.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
Start Exercises →Related Topics
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.