The passive voice in German shows the subject of the sentence receiving the action. In the case of the verbs Ist/wird geschrieben, it can show either a completed action or an ongoing process.
German
English
Das Buch wird geschrieben.
The book is being written.
Passive With Stative Verbs: Ist/wird geschrieben
The statal passive (Zustandspassiv) indicates an already completed action. It describes the state, result, or situation after an action has been completed.
To form the statal passive, we need a form of sein and the past participle of the main verb:
- subject + form of sein + past participle
German
English
Der Zug ist abgefahren.
The train has departed.
Here is a comparison of two forms in the passive:
German
English
Der Brief wird geschrieben.
The letter is being written.
➝ Describing an ongoing process.
German
English
Der Brief ist geschrieben
The letter is written.
➝ Describing a completed action with the result.
Quiz
1/3
Choose the correct form: Das Auto ___ gefahren.
0
correct answers.