B2-11 · Use Partizip II before nouns
The world of work
Describe completed changes and planned measures with participles used as adjectives.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
A completed action becomes a description
A fictional company discusses changes at work. Partizip II can describe a noun as affected by an action: die geplante Reform is the reform that has been planned. Before a noun, the participle takes an adjective ending.
Die geplante Reform wird im Team diskutiert.
The planned reform is discussed in the team.
Der unterschriebene Vertrag liegt auf dem Tisch.
The signed contract is on the table.
Das veröffentlichte Angebot enthält neue Angaben.
The published offer contains new information.
Die abgeschlossenen Projekte werden vorgestellt.
The completed projects are presented.
Compare planen → geplant → die geplante Reform. The ending depends on the noun phrase, not on whether the plan is good or bad. A planned reform need not already have been carried out.
02
Case and article still matter
Use the adjective endings you know. After den or einen in the masculine accusative, use -en. Dative phrases after a definite or indefinite article also use -en.
Wir prüfen den unterschriebenen Vertrag.
We check the signed contract.
Sie liest ein veröffentlichtes Stellenangebot.
She reads a published job advertisement.
Mit den betroffenen Beschäftigten wird gesprochen.
The affected employees are spoken with.
Wir arbeiten mit einem überarbeiteten Entwurf.
We work with a revised draft.
Der unterschriebene Vertrag becomes den unterschriebenen Vertrag as an object. Ein veröffentlichtes Stellenangebot is neuter accusative. The participle changes its ending like any adjective before a noun.
03
Distinguish ongoing action from its result
Partizip I often describes an ongoing action; Partizip II often describes a result or someone affected. The context matters. Compare a department that is growing with one that has grown.
Die wachsende Abteilung braucht mehr Platz.
The growing department needs more space.
Die gewachsene Abteilung zieht in größere Räume.
The department that has grown is moving into larger rooms.
Die neu eingestellten Beschäftigten lernen das Team kennen.
The newly hired employees get to know the team.
Wir besprechen die bereits vereinbarten Maßnahmen.
We discuss the measures already agreed upon.
Wachsend describes growth in progress. Gewachsen looks at the resulting size. Not every Partizip II attribute is passive: die gewachsene Abteilung comes from the department growing, not somebody growing it.
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