The Passive Voice focuses on the action itself, not the person doing it. The core recipe is a form of the verb 'werden' + the past participle (Partizip II).
1Story in Action
Neue Regeln im Park - Das Passiv im Gespräch
Klara: Schau mal, Leo! Hier hängt ein nagelneues Schild. Das habe ich gestern noch nicht gesehen. Es ist riesig und viel besser sichtbar!
Look, Leo! There's a brand-new sign here. I didn't see that yesterday. It's huge and much more visible!
Leo: Ach ja, stimmt. Ich habe in der Zeitung gelesen, dass vom Stadtrat neue, strengere Regeln für den Park beschlossen wurden, um die Grünflächen besser zu schützen. Sogar die Hundefreilaufzone soll verlegt werden.
Oh right, true. I read in the newspaper that new, stricter rules for the park were decided upon by the city council to better protect the green spaces. Even the dog off-leash zone is supposed to be relocated.
Simple Past Passive (Präteritum Passiv) with Agent
Describes a past action. The agent ('vom Stadtrat') is included using 'von + Dativ'. The focus remains on the action itself (the decision) and its result (the rules).
(dass...) + Partizip II + Conjugated Präteritum of 'werden'.
Passive with a Modal Verb (sollen)
Expresses an external obligation or rumor (It is said that it is supposed to be moved). The modal verb ('soll') is conjugated, followed by the passive construction.
Conjugated Modal Verb + ... + Partizip II + werden (Infinitiv).
Klara: Wirklich? Das ist ja eine große Sache! Was für Regeln werden denn jetzt genau eingeführt? Ich hoffe, unsere Joggingstrecke wird nicht blockiert!
Really? That's a big deal! What kind of rules are being introduced exactly? I hope our jogging path isn't being blocked!
Present Tense Passive (Präsens Passiv)
Used to ask about an action being implemented right now. The focus is on the action of 'introducing'.
Conjugated 'werden' + ... + Partizip II.
Present Tense Passive (Präsens Passiv)
Used to express a concern about the current state of the jogging path.
Conjugated 'werden' + Partizip II.
Leo: Also, zum Beispiel muss der Müll ab sofort strenger in den neuen Behältern dort drüben entsorgt werden. Und ich habe gehört, dass die Bänke bis zum Abend gestrichen worden sind, damit sie haltbarer sind.
Well, for example, from now on, the trash must be disposed of more strictly in the new containers over there. And I heard that the benches have been painted by the evening so that they are more durable.
Passive with a Modal Verb (müssen)
Used to state a formal, necessary rule or obligation. The modal verb ('muss') is conjugated, and the passive construction ('entsorgt werden') goes to the end.
Conjugated Modal Verb + ... + Partizip II + werden (Infinitiv).
Perfect Passive (Perfekt Passiv)
Used to describe an action that was completed in the past and has a relevance to the present (the benches are now painted).
Conjugated 'sein' + Partizip II + worden.
Klara: Okay, das ist sinnvoll. Und was ist mit dem Grillen? Wird das jetzt komplett verboten oder gibt es eine Alternative? Früher durfte ja überall gegrillt werden.
Okay, that makes sense. And what about grilling? Is that completely forbidden now, or is there an alternative? In the past, grilling was permitted everywhere.
Present Tense Passive (Präsens Passiv)
Klara asks if the action of 'forbidding' is currently being done.
Conjugated 'werden' + ... + Partizip II?
Past Passive with a Modal Verb (dürfen)
Used to describe a past allowance or rule. The modal verb ('dürfen') is conjugated in the Simple Past, and the passive infinitive ('gegrillt werden') goes to the end.
Conjugated Präteritum of Modal Verb + ... + Partizip II + werden (Infinitiv).
Leo: Nicht ganz. Das Grillen wird nur noch an den speziell ausgewiesenen Plätzen erlaubt. Der Rest der Wiese muss von Feuer freigehalten werden, damit die Sicherheit gewährleistet ist.
Not entirely. Grilling is only permitted in the specially designated areas now. The rest of the meadow must be kept free of fire so that safety is guaranteed.
Present Tense Passive (Präsens Passiv)
Describes a current, ongoing rule. The focus is on the fact that grilling is permitted only there.
Conjugated 'werden' + Partizip II.
Passive with a Modal Verb (müssen)
States a necessary action/state for the meadow.
Conjugated Modal Verb + ... + Partizip II + werden (Infinitiv).
Statal Passive (Zustandspassiv)
Uses 'sein' + Partizip II to describe the result or state of a completed action, focusing on safety being in a guaranteed state.
Conjugated 'sein' + Partizip II.
Klara: Ah, verstehe. Die neuen Regeln werden also auf diesen Schildern bekannt gegeben, damit alle Bescheid wissen. Gut, dass das Schild so auffällig platziert worden ist.
Ah, I see. So the new rules are thus announced on these signs so that everyone knows. It's good that the sign has been placed so conspicuously.
Present Tense Passive (Präsens Passiv)
Klara correctly uses the passive voice to describe the function of the signs.
'bekannt gegeben' is the Partizip II of the separable verb 'bekanntgeben'.
Perfect Passive (Perfekt Passiv)
Used to describe a completed past action (placing the sign) with relevance to the present (it is visible now).
Conjugated 'sein' + Partizip II + worden.
2Why This Matters
The passive voice lets you shift the spotlight from “who did it” to “what happened,” giving your language the objectivity and formality that German universities, employers, and official letters demand. It’s the instant upgrade that makes instructions, reports, and process descriptions sound professional rather than personal.
3Present Tense
Formed with the present tense of 'werden' (conjugated) + the Past Participle at the end.
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Die Wäsche wird gewaschen. | The laundry is being washed. | Subject: 'Die Wäsche' (singular) → Verb: 'wird' (3rd person sing. of werden) → Participle: 'gewaschen'. |
| Die neuen Regeln werden auf Schildern bekannt gegeben. | The new rules are announced on signs. | Subject: 'Die neuen Regeln' (plural) → Verb: 'werden' (3rd person pl. of werden) → Separable Participle: 'bekannt gegeben'. |
4Simple Past (Präteritum)
Formed with the simple past of 'werden' (wurden, etc.) + the Past Participle.
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Die Wäsche wurde gewaschen. | The laundry was washed. | Subject: 'Die Wäsche' (singular) → Verb: 'wurde' (simple past of werden) → Participle: 'gewaschen'. |
| Gestern wurden vom Stadtrat neue Regeln beschlossen. | Yesterday, new rules were decided upon by the city council. | Subject: 'neue Regeln' (plural) → Verb: 'wurden' (plural simple past) → Participle: 'beschlossen'. |
5Perfect (Perfekt)
This is a three-part structure: sein (conjugated) + Past Participle + worden.
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Die Wäsche ist gewaschen worden. | The laundry has been washed. | Helper Verb: 'ist' (from sein) → Participle: 'gewaschen' → Passive marker: 'worden'. |
6Past Perfect (Plusquamperfekt)
Formed with the simple past of 'sein' (war, waren) + Past Participle + worden.
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Ich war eingeladen worden. | I had been invited. | Helper Verb: 'war' (simple past of sein) → Participle: 'eingeladen' → Passive marker: 'worden'. |
7With Modal Verb (Present)
Formed with the Modal Verb (conjugated) + Past Participle + werden (infinitive).
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Das Paket kann morgen abgeholt werden. | The package can be picked up tomorrow. | Modal 'können': 'kann' (conjugated) → Passive Infinitive Group: 'abgeholt werden'. |
| Der Müll muss sofort entsorgt werden. | The trash must be disposed of immediately. | Modal 'müssen': 'muss' (conjugated) → Passive Infinitive Group: 'entsorgt werden'. |
| Hier darf nicht geraucht werden. | Smoking is not allowed here. | Modal 'dürfen': 'darf' (conjugated) → Passive Infinitive Group: 'geraucht werden'. |
| Die Hausaufgaben sollen bis Freitag gemacht werden. | The homework should be done by Friday. | Modal 'sollen': 'sollen' (conjugated) → Passive Infinitive Group: 'gemacht werden'. |
| Der Kunde will besser informiert werden. | The customer wants to be better informed. | Modal 'wollen': 'will' (conjugated) → Passive Infinitive Group: 'informiert werden'. |
8With Modal Verb (Past)
Formed with the Modal Verb (in Präteritum) + Past Participle + werden (infinitive).
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Der Fehler konnte schnell gefunden werden. | The mistake could be found quickly. | Modal 'können' (past): 'konnte' → Passive Infinitive Group: 'gefunden werden'. |
| Der Mann musste operiert werden. | The man had to be operated on. | Modal 'müssen' (past): 'musste' → Passive Infinitive Group: 'operiert werden'. |
| Das Auto durfte hier nicht geparkt werden. | The car was not allowed to be parked here. | Modal 'dürfen' (past): 'durfte' → Passive Infinitive Group: 'geparkt werden'. |
| Das Dokument sollte sofort ausgedruckt werden. | The document was supposed to be printed immediately. | Modal 'sollen' (past): 'sollte' → Passive Infinitive Group: 'ausgedruckt werden'. |
| Die alte Brücke wollte nicht mehr saniert werden. | They did not want to renovate the old bridge anymore. (lit. The old bridge was not wanted to be renovated anymore.) | Modal 'wollen' (past): 'wollte' → Passive Infinitive Group: 'saniert werden'. |
9Expressing the Agent
To specify who or what performed the action, use 'von' for the doer (people, institutions) and 'durch' for the instrument or means.
Von_ Dativ: Use 'von' + Dative for the person or institution directly performing the action.
Durch_ Akkusativ: Use 'durch' + Accusative for the means, instrument, or indirect cause.
| Example | English | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Der Minister wird von dem Journalisten interviewt. | The minister is interviewed by the journalist. | The agent is a person ('dem Journalisten'), so 'von' + Dative is used. |
| Die Krankheit Malaria wird durch Mücken übertragen. | The disease malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. | The agent is the means/instrument ('Mücken'), so 'durch' + Accusative is used. |
10Practice Exercises
Man baut hier ein neues Haus.
72 graded exercises on The Passive Voice, with the mistake explained every time you get one wrong.
10 more B1 grammar topics — see them all