The passive voice in German (das Passiv) shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself or its result. It is useful when the agent is unknown, unimportant, or implied. The passive is formed using the auxiliary verb werden plus the past participle of the main verb.

Formation

The passive is always built with werden and the past participle of the main verb. The subject of the passive sentence receives the action.
  • Present: werden (conjugated) + past participle
  • Past: wurden (simple past of werden) + past participle
  • Perfect: sind (auxiliary sein) + past participle + worden
  • Future: werden (conjugated) + past participle + werden
Example with schreiben (to write):
TenseBeispiel (German)Example (English)
PresentDer Brief wird geschrieben.The letter is being written.
Simple PastDer Brief wurde geschrieben.The letter was written.
PerfectDer Brief ist geschrieben worden.The letter has been written.
FutureDer Brief wird geschrieben werden.The letter will be written.

Use of von and durch

To indicate the agent (the doer) of the action in the passive, German uses von or durch plus the dative case:
  • von is more general and common (by).
  • durch is used when emphasizing means or instrumentality (through, by way of).
Example:
PronounExample (German)Example (English)
ErDer Brief wird von ihm geschrieben.The letter is being written by him.
SieDer Brief wurde durch sie geschrieben.The letter was written by her.
WirDer Brief wird von uns geschrieben.The letter is being written by us.

When is the preposition durch used in German passive sentences?


To emphasize means or instrumentality

Durch is used in passive sentences to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is performed (e.g., Der Brief wurde durch die Maschine geschrieben).

Variations and Subtleties

The passive can be nuanced with modal verbs, time expressions, and impersonal constructions.
  • Modal verbs: The past participle goes to the end, and werden is in its infinitive form.
  • Impersonal passive: Use es wird when there is no real subject (e.g., “People say...”)
  • Reflexive verbs: Passive can be used but is less common.
  • Stative passive: Indicates a state/result rather than an ongoing action (uses sein + past participle).
Example with modal verbs:
TenseBeispiel (German)Example (English)
PräsensDer Brief muss geschrieben werden.The letter must be written.
PerfektDer Brief hat geschrieben werden müssen.The letter has had to be written.

Common Mistakes

  • Using sein instead of werden for forming the passive (except in stative passive).
  • Omitting worden in the perfect tense passive.
  • Confusing agent phrases: von vs durch.
  • Using the active voice word order in passive sentences.
For example, incorrect and correct forms:
MistakeCorrectionExplanation
Der Brief ist geschrieben.Der Brief ist geschrieben worden.Perfect passive needs worden (not just past participle).
Er wird geschrieben den Brief.Der Brief wird von ihm geschrieben.Word order is S-V-... and von ihm indicates the agent.
Der Brief ist geschrieben.Der Brief wird geschrieben.sein + past participle is state, not action. Use werden for passive action.
The German passive voice is a key tool for shifting focus away from the doer and toward the action or result, and takes precise auxiliary and participle forms.

Which preposition introduces the agent in German passive sentences: von or durch? What is the difference?


von is general 'by,' durch emphasizes means/instrumentality 'through/by way of'

Von introduces the agent in a general sense, while durch highlights the means or instrument used to perform the action.

Flashcards (1 of 9)

  • Tense: Present
  • Example (English): The letter is being written.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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