Passive of State
The passive of state (Zustandspassiv) describes the result or state after an action, not the action itself.
It uses 'sein' (to be) instead of 'werden' (to become), and the past participle functions as an adjective.
This lesson covers how to form and use the passive of state in German.
Explanation
Form: sein (conjugated) + past participle. The past participle acts like an adjective and can take adjective endings.
Example: 'Das Buch ist gelesen' (The book is read / has been read) vs. 'Das Buch wird gelesen' (The book is being read).
The passive of state describes a completed state or result, while process passive (with 'werden') describes an ongoing action.
The past participle in state passive can take adjective endings when used attributively: 'das gelesene Buch' (the read book).
Passive of State Formation
| Subject | sein (conjugated) | Past Participle | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | bin | gelesen | Ich bin gelesen | I am read |
| du | bist | gelesen | Du bist gelesen | You are read |
| er/sie/es | ist | gelesen | Das Buch ist gelesen | The book is read |
| wir | sind | gelesen | Wir sind gelesen | We are read |
| ihr | seid | gelesen | Ihr seid gelesen | You are read |
| sie | sind | gelesen | Sie sind gelesen | They are read |
Process Passive vs. State Passive
Process passive (Vorgangspassiv) with 'werden' describes an action in progress: 'Das Buch wird gelesen' (The book is being read).
State passive (Zustandspassiv) with 'sein' describes a completed state: 'Das Buch ist gelesen' (The book is read / has been read).
| Type | Auxiliary | Example | Translation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process Passive | werden | Das Buch wird gelesen | The book is being read | Action in progress |
| State Passive | sein | Das Buch ist gelesen | The book is read | Completed state |
Examples
Das Buch ist gelesen.
The book is read. (state - it has been read)
Die Tür ist geöffnet.
The door is open. (state - it has been opened)
Das Auto ist repariert.
The car is repaired. (state - it has been repaired)
Das Fenster ist geschlossen.
The window is closed. (state)
Die Aufgabe ist gelöst.
The task is solved. (state)
Common Mistakes
Das Buch wird gelesen (when meaning 'is read')
Das Buch ist gelesen
For completed state, use 'sein' (ist), not 'werden' (wird). 'Wird' is for ongoing action.
Das Buch ist lesen
Das Buch ist gelesen
State passive requires the past participle, not the infinitive. 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.