Passive in Simple Past
The passive voice in the simple past (Präteritum) uses 'wurden' (the past tense form of 'werden') as the auxiliary verb.
This form is commonly used in written German, especially in narratives and reports.
This lesson covers how to form and use the passive voice in the simple past tense.
Explanation
Form: wurden (past tense of werden) + past participle. 'Wurden' is used for all persons except 'ich' and 'er/sie/es', which use 'wurde'.
Conjugation: ich wurde, du wurdest, er/sie/es wurde, wir wurden, ihr wurdet, sie wurden.
Example: 'Das Buch wurde gelesen' (The book was being read / was read).
The simple past passive is often used in formal writing and narratives to describe past events.
Passive Formation - Simple Past
| Subject | wurden (conjugated) | Past Participle | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | wurde | gelesen | Ich wurde gelesen | I was being read |
| du | wurdest | gelesen | Du wurdest gelesen | You were being read |
| er/sie/es | wurde | gelesen | Das Buch wurde gelesen | The book was being read |
| wir | wurden | gelesen | Wir wurden gelesen | We were being read |
| ihr | wurdet | gelesen | Ihr wurdet gelesen | You were being read |
| sie | wurden | gelesen | Sie wurden gelesen | They were being read |
Examples
Das Buch wurde gelesen.
The book was being read.
Die Tür wurde geöffnet.
The door was opened.
Das Auto wurde repariert.
The car was being repaired.
Das Haus wurde von dem Architekten gebaut.
The house was built by the architect.
Der Brief wurde durch die Post geschickt.
The letter was sent through the mail.
Die Aufgabe wurde gelöst.
The task was solved.
Common Mistakes
Das Buch wurde lesen
Das Buch wurde gelesen
Passive requires the past participle, not the infinitive. Use 'gelesen', not 'lesen'.
Das Buch war gelesen
Das Buch wurde gelesen
For process passive in past, use 'wurde', not 'war'. 'War' is for state passive.
Wir wurde gelesen
Wir wurden gelesen
Plural 'wir' requires 'wurden', not 'wurde'. 'Wurde' is only for singular (ich, er/sie/es).
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.