Passwort Deutsch (2) [New]: The passive voice

Test your understanding. Match the active expression with its correct passive counterpart.

Remember in German the passive voice is formed by the verb "werden", conjugated in the proper tense, + the past participle of the main verb.


Example #1:

The book is being read.
"Das Buch wird gelesen."


The acccusative object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Case A: If the agent of a passive sentence is a person, it is expressed by "von" + a dative object.

Example #2:

"Johann singt das Lied."

"Das Lied wird von Johann gesungen."

Case 2: If the agent is not a person, it is usually expressed by "durch" + an accusative object.

Example #3:
"Der Feuer brennt das Haus nieder."

"Das Haus wird durch den Feuer niedergebrannt."