B1-11 · Describe processes with the present passive
The school system
Talk about a fictional school visit and focus on what happens using werden plus a past participle.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Focus on the process
On an open day, visitors hear how a school organises learning. The present passive uses werden plus a past participle. It focuses on the action and the person or thing affected, rather than on who performs it.
Die Lehrerin erklärt die Aufgabe.
The teacher explains the task.
Die Aufgabe wird erklärt.
The task is explained.
Die Schüler lesen den Text.
The pupils read the text.
Der Text wird gelesen.
The text is read.
Compare the active object die Aufgabe with the passive subject die Aufgabe. Werden changes with the subject: die Aufgabe wird, die Aufgaben werden. The participle stays at the end.
02
Singular and plural subjects
German school names and routes vary by federal state. Here we describe activities at a fictional school, rather than a rule for every school. Learn terms such as Grundschule, Unterricht and Abitur in context.
An dieser Grundschule werden die Kinder gemeinsam unterrichtet.
At this primary school, the children are taught together.
Im Unterricht wird eine Frage besprochen.
A question is discussed in class.
Die Prüfungen werden am Ende des Schuljahres geschrieben.
The exams are taken at the end of the school year.
Am Gymnasium werden die Jugendlichen auf das Abitur vorbereitet.
At the Gymnasium, the young people are prepared for the Abitur.
Grundschule means primary school. Gymnasium is a school type associated with the Abitur, a school-leaving qualification. The plural subjects Kinder, Prüfungen and Jugendliche take werden; singular Frage takes wird.
03
Name the person when needed
You can add von plus the dative to name who does the action. The focus still stays on the passive subject. In a question, the finite form of werden moves in the usual way.
Die Regeln werden von der Schulleiterin erklärt.
The rules are explained by the headteacher.
Der Unterricht wird von den Lehrkräften geplant.
The lessons are planned by the teachers.
Wann wird die Prüfung geschrieben?
When is the exam taken?
Die Ergebnisse werden nächste Woche bekannt gegeben.
The results are announced next week.
Von der Schulleiterin and von den Lehrkräften name the people responsible. Do not confuse wird erklärt, an action, with ist erklärt, a state or result. Here the lesson practises the action passive in the present.
Ready to try it?
Check what you remember with 12 short questions.
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