B2-77 · Describe buildings with participles
Architecture
Use Partizip I and Partizip II as attributes, extend them with extra information and turn them into relative clauses when describing buildings.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Partizip II: what has been done
Before a noun, the Partizip II of a verb with an object describes something that has been done to the noun, like a passive: das restaurierte Rathaus is the town hall that has been restored. It takes normal adjective endings. Extra information goes between the article and the participle: eine im Jahr 1910 erbaute Villa.
Das restaurierte Rathaus ist wieder geöffnet.
The restored town hall is open again.
Wir besichtigen eine im Jahr 1910 erbaute Villa.
We are visiting a villa built in 1910.
Der renovierte Bahnhof verbindet Alt und Neu.
The renovated station connects old and new.
Die Stadt plant einen aus Holz gebauten Kindergarten.
The town is planning a kindergarten built from wood.
Restaurieren means to restore, renovieren to renovate and erbauen to build. Das Rathaus is the town hall and die Villa a large detached house. All buildings here are fictional.
02
Partizip I: what is happening
A Partizip I is formed from the infinitive plus d: wachsen, wachsend. Before a noun it describes something that is happening at the same time, with an active meaning: die wachsende Stadt is the city that is growing. It also takes adjective endings and can be extended.
| meaning | participle | example |
|---|---|---|
| active, happening now | Partizip I | die wachsende Stadt |
| passive, completed | Partizip II | die renovierte Fassade |
Die ständig wachsende Stadt braucht neue Wohnungen.
The constantly growing city needs new flats.
Die Fassade hat eine auffallende Farbe.
The façade has a striking colour.
Viele Menschen kritisieren die steigenden Baukosten.
Many people criticise the rising construction costs.
Ein über den Fluss führender Steg verbindet die beiden Ufer.
A footbridge leading across the river connects the two banks.
Compare die renovierte Fassade (it has been renovated) with die auffallende Fassade (it stands out). Die Fassade means façade, der Steg footbridge, das Ufer bank and die Baukosten construction costs.
03
Describe a building in a guide text
Guidebooks and architecture texts pack information into extended participle attributes. Each one can be turned into a relative clause: die von Nora Lange entworfene Bibliothek means die Bibliothek, die von Nora Lange entworfen wurde. To read one, go from the article to the participle and its noun, then add the words in between.
Der im Bauhausstil gestaltete Neubau wirkt hell und schlicht.
The new building, designed in the Bauhaus style, looks bright and simple.
Die von Architektin Nora Lange entworfene Bibliothek gewann einen Preis.
The library designed by architect Nora Lange won a prize.
Die von Bäumen umgebene Kirche stammt aus der Gotik.
The church surrounded by trees dates from the Gothic period.
Die Bibliothek, die von Nora Lange entworfen wurde, gewann einen Preis.
The library, which was designed by Nora Lange, won a prize.
Entwerfen means to design, gestalten to shape or design and umgeben to surround. Umgeben is inseparable, so its participle has no ge-: umgeben. Der Neubau means new building, der Altbau old building, and die Gotik the Gothic period.
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