German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
The Passive: Zustandspassiv vs. Vorgangspassiv
In German, there are two types of passive (Passiv): the process passive (Vorgangspassiv) and the state passive (Zustandspassiv). Today, Vogel will explain these two types of passive with you.
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Vorgangspassiv is used to describe an action that is still in the process of being carried out. Vorgangspassiv is formed with the verb “werden” and the Partizip II. |
Zustandspassiv is used to describe a state after the action has been carried out, describing the result of an action. Zustandspassiv is formed with the verb “sein” and the Partizip II. |
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Aktivsatz (Active sentence): Rolf repariert das Auto. (Rolf repairs the car.) |
Das Auto wird repariert. (The car is still being repaired.) |
Das Auto ist repariert. (The car has been repaired.) |
!!! Note: Some verbs cannot form the passive, such as: verbs that take “sein” in the present perfect, verbs describing a state (sein, haben, bleiben, besitzen, erhalten, bekommen...), reflexive verbs (reflexive Verben), modal verbs (Modalverben: können, dürfen, sollen,..), and other verbs such as wissen, kosten, kennen,...
Examples:
- „Ich bin zum Zahnarzt gegangen.“
The passive cannot be used in this sentence because only I myself can go (zum Zahnarzt gehen). No one else can go (gehen) for me.
- „Ich konzentriere mich.“
The passive cannot be used in this sentence because the reflexive verb “konzentriere mich” always refers to the agent of the action and always requires a subject in the sentence. No one except me can make me concentrate; only I myself can do that.
