Process passive

Das Haus wird gebaut.

With von/durch (agent)

Das Buch wird von vielen gelesen.

Practical Examples

1. Das Auto wird heute repariert.

• The car is being repaired today.
• Usage Note: Focuses on the action performed on the car, not who is doing the repairing.

1. Deutsch wird weltweit gesprochen.

• German is spoken worldwide.
• Usage Note: States a general fact or truth where the agent (who speaks it) is irrelevant or unknown.

1. Der Brief wird vom Postboten zugestellt.

• The letter is delivered by the postman.
• Usage Note: The agent ("vom Postboten" - by the postman) is mentioned using "von", but the main focus is still on the letter and its delivery.

1. Die Tür wird nicht geöffnet.

• The door is not opened.
• Usage Note: Expresses that an action is not happening to the subject.

1. Wird der Kuchen gebacken?

• Is the cake being baked?
• Usage Note: Asks about the status or occurrence of an action.

1. Die Aufgabe muss bis morgen erledigt werden.

• The task must be completed by tomorrow.
• Usage Note: Combines passive with a modal verb ("müssen") to express necessity.

1. Hier wird viel gelacht.

• A lot of laughter happens here / People laugh a lot here.
• Usage Note: Impersonal passive, used when the agent is unknown or irrelevant, focusing on the general activity.

1. Das Paket kann heute nicht abgeholt werden.

• The package cannot be picked up today.
• Usage Note: Combines passive with a modal verb ("können") and negation to express impossibility.

1. Wird die Rechnung schon bezahlt?

• Is the bill already being paid?
• Usage Note: Asks about an ongoing or expected action.

1. Den Kindern wird eine Geschichte vorgelesen.

• A story is read to the children.
• Usage Note: Shows how passive can be formed when the original active sentence has a dative object (the children).

1. Diese Regel wird oft missverstanden.

• This rule is often misunderstood.
• Usage Note: Highlights a common state or frequent occurrence.

1. Warum wird das Licht nicht ausgeschaltet?

• Why isn't the light switched off?
• Usage Note: A question combining negation and passive, asking for a reason for an action's non-occurrence.

1. Die Bäume werden im Herbst beschnitten.

• The trees are pruned in autumn.
• Usage Note: Describes a regular or seasonal action.

1. Die E-Mail wird mir geschickt.

• The email is sent to me.
• Usage Note: Another example of passive with an indirect object, where the direct object becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

1. Es wird erwartet, dass alle pünktlich sind.

• It is expected that everyone is punctual.
• Usage Note: Impersonal passive, often used for general expectations or opinions, especially with a subordinate clause.