B1Verbs

German Passive Voice (Passiv)

The passive voice in German is formed with werden + past participle. It emphasizes the action rather than who performs it.

Key Rules

  • 1Process passive: werden + past participle
  • 2State passive: sein + past participle
  • 3Agent (by whom): von + dative
  • 4Present passive: wird gemacht (is being made)
  • 5Past passive: wurde gemacht (was made)

Examples

Das Buch wird gelesen.

The book is being read.

Das Haus wurde von meinem Vater gebaut.

The house was built by my father.

Related Grammar Topics

Tenses
German Perfect Tense (Perfekt)
A2
Tenses
German Simple Past Tense (Präteritum)
B1

Want to Master German Grammar?

Download Deutsch Mentor app for interactive grammar exercises and personalized feedback.

Download the App

Continue Learning German Grammar

Explore more grammar topics to build a strong foundation in German. Each topic includes clear explanations, practical examples, and common mistakes to help you learn effectively.

Browse all grammar topics