B1 · GRAMMAR
Passive Voice (Passiv)
In the passive voice, what is done matters more than who does it: 'The house is being built'. Formed in German with werden + Partizip II. Very common in formal texts, news, and instructions.
In this lesson
1. Structure
werden (2nd position) + Partizip II (at the end).
Das Haus wird gebaut.
The house is being built.
2. Active → Passive
Accusative object becomes the subject. If the doer is important, use von + Dative.
Der Brief wird von der Sekretärin geschrieben.
The letter is being written by the secretary.
3. Past
Präteritum: wurde + P.II. Perfekt: ist + P.II + worden.
Das Auto wurde repariert.
The car was repaired.
4. With Modals
Modal + P.II + werden (at the end).
Der Antrag muss unterschrieben werden.
The application must be signed.
5. man
Often used in spoken German instead of passive: man + active verb.
Man spricht hier Deutsch.
German is spoken here.
💡 In the Passive Perfekt, use worden (no 'ge-'!). 'geworden' only means 'to become': Er ist Arzt geworden.