German participles, including Partizip I and Partizip II, for building adjectives, forming tenses, and creating passive voice in German grammar.
German participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives, create compound tenses, or form the passive voice. There are two main types: Partizip I (present participle) and Partizip II (past participle). Partizip I expresses ongoing action or describes something, while Partizip II is used for completed actions and is essential in forming perfect tenses and the passive voice.
- Partizip I = expresses "…ing" or describes something (active)
- Partizip II = indicates something is done (past/completed) or forms passive
- Participles can be used attributively (like adjectives) or in verb phrases
The Partizip I is formed by adding -d to the infinitive. It describes something doing the action or expresses "…ing."
Formation
- Infinitive + -d
- Example: lernen → lernend
Irregular verbs use the regular pattern for Partizip I
Usage
- Attributive adjective (can take endings like any adjective)
- ein lernendes Kind* (a learning child)
- Adverbial modifier (describes how something is done)
- Lernend hörte sie Musik.* (Listening, she heard music.)
- Noun substitution (can act as a verbal noun)
- die Lernenden* (the learners)
Examples
Verb: singen (to sing)
- Partizip I: singend
| Usage | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attributive | eine singende Frau | a singing woman |
| Adverbial | Singend ging er hinaus. | Singing, he went outside. |
| Noun | die Singenden | the singers (people) |
Verb: schreiben (to write)
- Partizip I: schreibend
| Usage | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attributive | ein schreibender Mann | a writing man |
| Adverbial | Schreibend verlor sie die Zeit aus den Augen. | Writing, she lost track of time. |
| Noun | die Schreibenden | the writers |
Summary
- Always formed regularly by adding -d to the infinitive
- Functions like an adjective or adverb describing ongoing action
- Never used to form verb tenses (unlike English “is singing”)
The Partizip II shows completed action and is used in perfect tenses, past tenses, and passive voice. It can also be used as an adjective.
Formation
Regular Verbs
- ge- + verb stem + -t
- spielen → gespielt
Irregular (Strong) Verbs
- Usually ge- + stem + -en
- Stem vowel may change (ablaut)
- gehen → gegangen, sehen → gesehen
Verbs with Prefixes
- If prefix is inseparable (be-, ver-, ent-, er-), no ge- added
- besuchen → besucht
- If prefix is separable (auf-, ein-, mit-), ge- placed between prefix and stem
- aufstehen → aufgestanden
Usage
- Forming perfect tenses (with haben or sein)
- Ich habe gespielt.* (I have played.)
- Forming pluperfect (with hatte or war)
- Ich hatte gespielt.* (I had played.)
- Forming passive voice (with werden)
- Das Buch wird gelesen.* (The book is being read.)
- As an adjective
- das geschriebene Wort* (the written word)
Examples
Regular verb: machen (to do/make)
| Usage | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect | Ich habe gemacht. | I have done. |
| Pluperfect | Ich hatte gemacht. | I had done. |
| Passive | Es wird gemacht. | It is being done. |
| Adjective | die gemachte Arbeit | the done work |
Irregular verb: schreiben (to write)
| Usage | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect | Ich habe geschrieben. | I have written. |
| Pluperfect | Ich hatte geschrieben. | I had written. |
| Passive | Der Brief wird geschrieben. | The letter is being written. |
| Adjective | das geschriebene Wort | the written word |
Separable prefix: aufstehen (to get up)
| Usage | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect | Ich bin aufgestanden. | I got up. |
| Pluperfect | Ich war aufgestanden. | I had gotten up. |
| Passive | (rare) | (rare) |
| Adjective | der aufgestandene Mann | the risen man |
Inseparable prefix: besuchen (to visit)
| Usage | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect | Ich habe besucht. | I have visited. |
| Pluperfect | Ich hatte besucht. | I had visited. |
| Passive | Das Kind wird besucht. | The child is being visited. |
| Adjective | die besuchte Schule | the visited school |
Summary
- Regular: ge- + stem + -t
- Irregular: ge- + stem + -en + possible vowel change
- Separable prefix: ge- goes after prefix
- Inseparable prefix: no ge-
- Used in perfect/pluperfect tenses, passive voice, and as adjectives
- Partizip I = Infinitive + -d; describes ongoing action; used adjectivally or adverbially
- Partizip II = shows completed action; formation varies by verb type and prefix
- Partizip II is essential for perfect tenses, pluperfect, and passive voice
- Both participles can function as adjectives (with appropriate endings)
- Understanding prefixes is key to correct Partizip II formation
Flashcards (1 of 22)
- Usage: Attributive
- English Example: a singing woman
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
