At the B2 level, using the passive voice allows you to shift focus from who is performing an action to the action itself. This is particularly useful in formal writing, reports, or when the person performing the action is unknown or irrelevant. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of forming and using the passive voice in German, with practical examples to help you master this important aspect of the language.
1. What is the Passive Voice?
In the passive voice, the object of an action becomes the subject of the sentence. The passive voice is often used when the doer of the action is either unknown or not important.
Example:
- Active Voice: Die Firma baut ein Haus.
(The company builds a house.) - Passive Voice: Ein Haus wird gebaut.
(A house is being built.)
In the passive sentence, the focus is on the house (what is being built), rather than the company (who is building it).
2. Forming the Passive Voice
To form the passive voice in German, you need:
- A form of the auxiliary verb “werden” (to become)
- The past participle of the main verb
Example:
- Das Haus wird gebaut.
(The house is being built.)
Here, wird is the conjugated form of werden, and gebaut is the past participle of bauen (to build).
Conjugation of “werden” in Present Tense:
- Ich werde (I become)
- Du wirst (You become)
- Er/Sie/Es wird (He/She/It becomes)
- Wir werden (We become)
- Ihr werdet (You all become)
- Sie/sie werden (They/You formal become)
3. Passive Voice in Different Tenses
The passive voice can be used in different tenses. Let’s explore how to form the passive in some common tenses.
A. Present Tense (Präsens)
- Example:
Der Brief wird geschrieben.
(The letter is being written.)
B. Past Tense (Präteritum)
- Example:
Der Brief wurde geschrieben.
(The letter was written.)
In the past tense, werden changes to wurde.
C. Present Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
- Example:
Der Brief ist geschrieben worden.
(The letter has been written.)
In the perfect tense, you use ist and the past participle worden.
D. Future Tense (Futur I)
- Example:
Der Brief wird geschrieben werden.
(The letter will be written.)
In the future tense, you use wird followed by the infinitive werden.
4. Using the Passive with a “von” Phrase
In some cases, you might want to specify who is performing the action in the passive voice. To do this, you use a “von”phrase, which is equivalent to “by” in English.
Example:
- Der Brief wird von dem Lehrer geschrieben.
(The letter is being written by the teacher.)
Here, von dem Lehrer indicates who is performing the action, but the focus remains on the action itself (the letter being written).
5. When to Use the Passive Voice
The passive voice is commonly used in the following situations:
A. When the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant
- Die Tür wurde geöffnet.
(The door was opened.)
In this case, it doesn’t matter who opened the door—the focus is on the action.
B. In formal or academic writing
The passive voice is often used in reports, instructions, or scientific texts where the focus is on the action rather than the actor.
C. When emphasizing the action over the actor
- Ein neues Gesetz wird erlassen.
(A new law is being passed.)
In this sentence, the law being passed is more important than who is passing it.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
A. Forgetting to Use the Correct Form of “Werden”
In the passive voice, it’s essential to use the correct conjugation of werden based on the tense and subject.
B. Confusing “Werden” with “Sein”
It’s important to distinguish between the passive voice with werden and the use of sein to form the present perfect tense (Perfekt). Remember, werden is used to form the passive voice.
Example:
- Das Buch wird gelesen. (Passive: The book is being read.)
- Das Buch ist gelesen worden. (Perfect passive: The book has been read.)
Conclusion
Mastering the passive voice in German at the B2 level will help you communicate more effectively, especially in formal or academic contexts. By using werden with the past participle of the main verb, you can focus on the action itself rather than who is performing it. Regular practice will allow you to use the passive voice confidently and naturally in a variety of situations.
