B2-63 · Write compact crime reports with participle clauses
Crime and punishment
Use participle clauses with Partizip II and Partizip I to report arrests, trials and sentences in the compact style of crime reports.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Done to someone: Partizip II clauses
Crime reports often start with a short participle clause instead of a full subordinate clause: Vom Gericht verurteilt, musste die Frau eine Geldstrafe zahlen. With transitive verbs such as verurteilen, a Partizip II clause has a passive meaning and usually describes something that happened first. The cases in this chapter are fictional.
Von der Polizei festgenommen, gestand der Mann den Diebstahl.
Arrested by the police, the man confessed to the theft.
Vom Gericht verurteilt, musste die Frau eine Geldstrafe zahlen.
Sentenced by the court, the woman had to pay a fine.
Von einer Kamera gefilmt, wurde der Täter schnell gefunden.
Filmed by a camera, the offender was found quickly.
Aus der Haft entlassen, suchte der Mann eine Wohnung und Arbeit.
Released from prison, the man looked for a flat and work.
The participle clause has the same subject as the main clause. It fills the first position, so the finite verb comes right after the comma. Verurteilen means to sentence, die Geldstrafe a fine, die Haft imprisonment and der Täter the offender.
02
At the same time: Partizip I clauses
A Partizip I clause has an active meaning and describes something happening at the same time as the main clause: Ruhig sprechend, verkündete die Richterin das Urteil. Objects and other details come before the participle.
| Meaning | Participle clause |
|---|---|
| passive, usually earlier | Vom Gericht verurteilt, … |
| active, at the same time | Ruhig sprechend, … |
Auf ein mildes Urteil hoffend, entschuldigte sich der Angeklagte beim Opfer.
Hoping for a lenient sentence, the defendant apologised to the victim.
Die Fakten sorgfältig prüfend, suchte die Polizei nach weiteren Zeugen.
Carefully checking the facts, the police looked for further witnesses.
Ruhig sprechend, verkündete die Richterin das Urteil.
Speaking calmly, the judge announced the verdict.
Den Fall genau beschreibend, informierte die Zeitung ihre Leser.
Describing the case precisely, the newspaper informed its readers.
Partizip I is the infinitive plus -d: hoffend, prüfend, sprechend. Partizip II is the past participle: verurteilt, gefilmt. Mild means lenient, das Urteil the verdict or sentence, and das Opfer the victim.
03
Participle clauses at the end and in court news
A participle clause can also follow the main clause, separated by a comma: Der Verurteilte verließ den Saal, begleitet von zwei Polizisten. Court news uses both positions to pack a lot of information into one sentence. The comma after a fronted participle clause is optional but usual, and a participle clause added at the end is set off by a comma.
Der Verurteilte verließ den Saal, begleitet von zwei Polizisten.
The convicted man left the courtroom, accompanied by two police officers.
Die Polizei klärte die Tat schnell auf, unterstützt durch Hinweise aus der Bevölkerung.
The police solved the crime quickly, supported by tips from the public.
In erster Instanz freigesprochen, wurde die Frau im Berufungsverfahren verurteilt.
Acquitted at first instance, the woman was convicted on appeal.
Zu einer Bewährungsstrafe verurteilt, bleibt der junge Mann vorerst in Freiheit.
Given a suspended sentence, the young man remains free for now.
Freisprechen means to acquit; the participle is freigesprochen. Die Bewährungsstrafe is a suspended sentence: the person stays free as long as they keep to the conditions. Das Berufungsverfahren is an appeal.
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