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: lernenlernend

Irregular verbs use the regular pattern for Partizip I

Usage

  1. Attributive adjective (can take endings like any adjective)
    1. ein lernendes Kind* (a learning child)
  2. Adverbial modifier (describes how something is done)
    1. Lernend hörte sie Musik.* (Listening, she heard music.)
  3. Noun substitution (can act as a verbal noun)
    1. die Lernenden* (the learners)

Examples

Verb: singen (to sing)

  • Partizip I: singend
UsageGerman ExampleEnglish Example
Attributiveeine singende Fraua singing woman
AdverbialSingend ging er hinaus.Singing, he went outside.
Noundie Singendenthe singers (people)

Verb: schreiben (to write)

  • Partizip I: schreibend
UsageGerman ExampleEnglish Example
Attributiveein schreibender Manna writing man
AdverbialSchreibend verlor sie die Zeit aus den Augen.Writing, she lost track of time.
Noundie Schreibendenthe 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
  • spielengespielt

Irregular (Strong) Verbs

  • Usually ge- + stem + -en
  • Stem vowel may change (ablaut)
  • gehengegangen, sehengesehen

Verbs with Prefixes

  • If prefix is inseparable (be-, ver-, ent-, er-), no ge- added
    • besuchenbesucht
  • If prefix is separable (auf-, ein-, mit-), ge- placed between prefix and stem
    • aufstehenaufgestanden

Usage

  1. Forming perfect tenses (with haben or sein)
    1. Ich habe gespielt.* (I have played.)
  2. Forming pluperfect (with hatte or war)
    1. Ich hatte gespielt.* (I had played.)
  3. Forming passive voice (with werden)
    1. Das Buch wird gelesen.* (The book is being read.)
  4. As an adjective
    1. das geschriebene Wort* (the written word)

Examples

Regular verb: machen (to do/make)

UsageGerman ExampleEnglish Example
PerfectIch habe gemacht.I have done.
PluperfectIch hatte gemacht.I had done.
PassiveEs wird gemacht.It is being done.
Adjectivedie gemachte Arbeitthe done work

Irregular verb: schreiben (to write)

UsageGerman ExampleEnglish Example
PerfectIch habe geschrieben.I have written.
PluperfectIch hatte geschrieben.I had written.
PassiveDer Brief wird geschrieben.The letter is being written.
Adjectivedas geschriebene Wortthe written word

Separable prefix: aufstehen (to get up)

UsageGerman ExampleEnglish Example
PerfectIch bin aufgestanden.I got up.
PluperfectIch war aufgestanden.I had gotten up.
Passive(rare)(rare)
Adjectiveder aufgestandene Mannthe risen man

Inseparable prefix: besuchen (to visit)

UsageGerman ExampleEnglish Example
PerfectIch habe besucht.I have visited.
PluperfectIch hatte besucht.I had visited.
PassiveDas Kind wird besucht.The child is being visited.
Adjectivedie besuchte Schulethe 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

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