Passiv

Definition

The Passive is used when the subject of the sentence has something done to it.

Example:

Der Roman wird im Unterricht durchgenommen.

The novel is covered in class.

Tenses of the Passive

To form the passive you use werden as an auxillary (helping) verb, plus the past participle of the verb in question.

Example:
Whiskey wird in Irland gemacht. Whiskey is made in Ireland.
Whiskey wurde in Irland gemacht. Whiskey was made in Ireland.
Whiskey ist in Irland gemacht worden. Whiskey was made in Ireland.
Whiskey wird in Irland gemacht werden. Whiskey will be made in Ireland.
Whiskey würde in Irland gemacht werden. Whiskey would be made in Ireland.

The Passive and Modal Verbs

The (modal) auxiliary verb goes in second position.

Die Arbeit muß gemacht werden. The work must be done.

Die Arbeit mußte gemacht werden. The work has to be done.
Die Arbeit wird gemacht werden müssen. The work will have to be done.
Die Arbeit müßte gemacht werden. The work ought to be done.

Use of Passive

 All verbs that have a direct object ( except reflexive verbs) can be used passively.

Example

Der Hund beißt den Mann Der Mann wird vom Hund gesbissen.
The dog bites the man. The man is bitten by the dog.
Der Lärn weckt das Kind. Das Kind wird durch den Lärm geweckt.
The noise wakes the child. The child is woken by the noise

 The word by in the passive is translated by

Von + dative, when the agent is alive.
Durch + accusative when the agent is not alive.

 When the agent is an instrument, with is translated by mit + dative

Example

Der Hund wird mit einem Stock geschlagen.

The dog is hit with a stick

 The passive is used to show an action is or was going on.

Example