Participles
Partizip I und Partizip II
There are two participles in German: Partizip I (present participle) and Partizip II (past participle).
Partizip I turns a verb into an adjective that describes an ongoing process, e.g. a sleeping baby (schlafendes Kind). It is also possible that Partizip I turns a verb into a noun, such as studieren 👉 der Studierende (student; male student).
Partizip II, on the other hand, usually describes a finished activity (the tenses Perfekt and Plusquamperfekt) or something that will be done in the future (the tense Futur II). It can be also used in sentences with the passive voice (Passiv). In passive sentences, Partizip II can also describe the present.
Construction and applications
Partizip I
Construction of Partizip I
Infinitiv + -d
Partizip I is created by adding the suffix -d to the infinitive (Infinitiv)
Ein weinendes Kind sitzt auf der Straße.
- Translation
- A crying child is sitting on the street.
- Explanation
- Verb: weinen (to cry) + suffix -d 👉 weinend + -es to account for the gender, case, and number (das Kind; Nominativ, Singular).
Eine Deutsch sprechende Person.
- Translation
- A German speaking person
- Explanation
- Verb: sprechen (to speak) + suffix -d 👉 sprechend + suffix -e to account for the gender, case, and number (die Person; Nominativ, Singular).
Applications of Partizip I
The participle Partizip I can be used as an adjective that describes a noun, as a noun or as an adverb that describes a verb.
As an adjective describing a noun
Ein auf der linken Spur fahrendes Auto.
- Translation
- A car driving on the left lane.
As a noun
Die Studierenden bewerben sich heutzutage früh um den ersten Job.
- Translation
- Nowadays, students apply for the first job early.
As an adverb describing a noun
Der Hund spielt liegend mit dem Spielzeug.
- Translation
- The dog is playing with a toy while lying down.
Partizip II
Construction of Partizip II
ge- + Verbstamm + -t
The participle Partizip II for regular verbs is built by adding the prefix ge- and the suffix -t to the verb stem. Strong verbs usually get the suffix -en instead. For irregular verbs, the form of Partizip II is simply arbitrary and has to be memorized.
machen 👉 gemacht
- Explanation
- Verb: machen (to do), prefix ge- + verb stem: mach + suffix -t 👉 gemacht
kochen 👉 gekocht
- Explanation
- Verb: kochen (to cook), prefix ge- + verb stem: koch + suffix -t 👉 gekocht
operieren 👉 operiert
- Explanation
- Verbs whose stem ends with -iren don't get the ge- (
geoperiert). E.g. the verb operieren (to operate / to perform a surgery), verb stem: operier + suffix -t 👉 operiert
arbeiten 👉 gearbeitet
- Explanation
- Verbs whose stem ends with either -t or -d get the suffix -et. E.g. the verb arbeiten (to work), prefix ge- + verb stem: arbeit + suffix -et 👉 gearbeitet
enden 👉 geendet
- Explanation
- Verbs whose stem ends with either -t or -d get the suffix -et. E.g. the verb enden (to end / to finish), prefix ge- + verb stem: end + suffix -et 👉 geendet
beeindrucken 👉 beeindruckt
- Explanation
- Inseparable verbs do not get the prefix ge-. The verb beeindrucken (to make an impression [on sb]), verb stem: beeindruck + the suffix -t 👉 beeindruckt
aus|reichen 👉 ausgereicht
- Explanation
- For separable verbs, the suffix ge- is placed between the separable prefix and the verb. The verb aus|reichen (to suffice), the separable prefix aus- + prefix ge- + verb stem: reich + suffix -t 👉 ausgereicht
schlafen 👉 geschlafen
- Explanation
- A strong verb: schlafen (to sleep), the prefix ge- + the verb stem: schlaf + the suffix -en 👉 geschlafen
Applications of Partizip II
Partizip II is used to build sentences in the following tense: Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt, and Futur II. Apart from that, it can act as an adverb, noun and in passive sentences.
In the past tense Perfekt
Ich habe Deutsch in der Schule gelernt.
- Translation
- I learned German at school.
In a sentence in the past tense Plusquamerfekt
Ich hatte bei dieser Firma 5 Jahre lang gearbeitet, bevor ich zum Leiter befördert wurde.
- Translation
- I had been working in this company for 5 years before I was promoted to a head of department.
In the future perfect tense Futur II
Bis wir zum Bahnhof kommen, wird der Zug schon abgefahren sein.
- Translation
- By the time we get to the station, the train will have already left.
As an adjective
Der frisch gebackte Kuchen riecht gut.
- Translation
- This freshly baked cake smells good.
- Explanation
- We add an appropriate suffix to the verb in the Partizip II form (as to an adjective).
As an adverb
Er arbeitet gestresst vor dem Quartalsende.
- Translation
- He is working stressed out before the end of the quarter.
In a sentence with passive voice
Deine Bestellung wird bearbeitet.
- Translation
- Your order is being processed.