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What is the Past Participle? (Partizip 2)
The Partizip 2 is also called Partizip Perfekt and the English equivalent is the Past Participle. (It's the 3rd form of the verb). The Partizip 2/Partizip Perfekt is a special form of a verb that is used in a variety of situations.
It is most often used when constructing certain tenses (Perfect, Past Perfect, Future 2, and Passive), but can also be used as an an Adjective to take the place of the usually much longer Subordinate clause.
Uses of the Partizip 2
As an Adjective
The Partizip 2 is used as an Adjective instead of a subordinate clause (if one action occurred before the other):
- „Er parkt jetzt das geputzte Auto.“
⇒ The first action was Putzen.
⇒ The second action is Parken.
- „Er hat das Auto geputzt.“ „Er parkt das Auto jetzt.“
Recommendation: Partizipien als Adjektiv
For more detailed explanations of how to use Partizip 1 and Partizip 2 as an Adjective and what to look for in Adjective Declension, see the lesson Participle as an Adjective.
In these tenses: Perfect, Past Perfect, Future Perfect, and Passive
- Perfect: „Du bist nach Hause gegangen.“
- Past Perfect (Plusquamperfekt): „Er war nach Hause gegangen.“
- Future 2: „Bis morgen wird das Auto repariert sein.“
- Status Passive (Zustandpassiv): „Das Fenster ist geöffnet.“
- Process Passive (Vorgangspassiv): „Das Haus wird geputzt.“
Constructing the Partizip 2
Regular Construction
Regular Verbs - Regular in Präsens (Present Tense)
ge + verb stem + -(e)t
Examples:
- machen ⇒ gemacht
- arbeiten ⇒ gearbeitet (when the verb stem ends in -d/-t)
Exception:
Verbs ending in –ieren don't get the "ge-" added to the beginning of the word.
- organisieren ⇒ organisiert
Irregular / Strong Verbs - Irregular in Präsens (Present Tense)
ge + verb stem + -en
Examples:
- fahren ⇒ gefahren
- schlafen ⇒ geschlafen
The categorization in regular and irregular is based on the Präsens conjugation! Therefore, the construction of the Partizip 2 is regular for both versions.
Attention:
The categorization Separable and Inseparable verbs refers to the conjugation of the verb in the Präsens (Present Tense). The formation of the Partizip 2 is 100% regular in these two forms.
Irregular Construction
Mixed Verbs
For mixed verbs, the Partizip 2 uses the stem from the Präteritum (Past Tense):
ge + verb stem in simple past + -t
Examples:
- bringen ⇒ gebracht (Past Tense: brachte)
- brennen ⇒ gebrannt (Past Tense: brannte)
- kennen ⇒ gekannt (Past Tense: kannte)
There are no specific rules which verbs use the verb stem from the Past tense. You just have to learn it.
Verbs with Vowel Changes
Some strong verbs change their vowel (a, e, i, o, u) to form their Partizip 2 form. These words usually change their vowel in the Präsens as well. Additionally, the double vowel "ei" almost always changes to "ie" in the Partizip 2.
Verbs with a vowel change always take an "-en" ending for the Partizip 2.
ge + verb stem with vowel change + -en
Examples:
- helfen ⇒ geholfen
- nehmen ⇒ genommen
- schreiben ⇒ geschrieben
Construction with Compound Verbs
Separable Verbs
You simply add the Prefix to the Partizip 2 of the main verb.
Prefix + ge + verb stem + -t/-en
Examples:
- einschlafen ⇒ eingeschlafen
- aufräumen ⇒ aufgeräumt
- anbringen ⇒ angebracht
The Past Participle of the main verb stays the same!
Inseparable Verbs
Inseparable verbs form the Partizip 2 without the "ge-".
Prefix + verb stem + -t/-en
Examples:
- besuchen ⇒ besucht
- verstehen ⇒ verstanden
The Partizip 2 (Past Participle) of the main verb stays the same!
Remember:
Independent from the Prefix, the base of the Past Participle stays the same.
Examples:
- stehen ⇒ gestanden (Regular Verb)
- aufstehen ⇒ aufgestanden (Separable Verb)
- verstehen ⇒ verstanden (Inseparable Verb)
Comparison of Partizip 1 (Present Participle) with Partizip 2 (Past Participle)
Partizip 1 as an Adjective: Something is happening at the same time
- „Der herunterfallende Apfel ist grün.“
- „Der Apfel fällt.“ „Der Apfel ist grün.“
Partizip 2 as an Adjective: Something has happened earlier on.
- „Der heruntergefallene Apfel liegt auf dem Boden.“
- „Der Apfel ist heruntergefallen.“ „Er liegt (jetzt) auf dem Boden.“
Related Topics:
Entire lesson in German only: Partizip 2
You can find more lessons on Verbs here:
- Was sind Verben? (What are Verbs?)
- Starke Verben (Strong Verbs)
- „sein“ und „haben“ ("sein" and "haben")
- Reflexive Verben (Reflexive Verbs)
- Trennbare & Untrennbare Verben (Separable & Inseparable Verbs)
- Modalverben (Modal Verbs)
- Partizip 1 (Present Participle)
- Das Verb „werden” (Verb "werden")
- Das Verb „lassen” (Verb "lassen")
- Imperativ (Imperative)
- Konjunktiv 1 (Subjunctive 1)
- Konjunktiv 2 (Subjunctive 2)
- Das Passiv (Passive Voice)
- Vorgangspassiv (Process Passive)
- Das Passiv in allen zeitformen (Process Passive in all tenses)
- Verben ohne Passiv (Verbs without Passive voice)
- Zustandpassiv (Status Passive)
- Das unpersönliche Passiv (Impersonal Passive)
- Verben mit Ergänzungen (Verbs with Complements)
- Verben mit Nominativ (Verbs with Nominative)
- Verben mit Akkusativ (Verbs with Accusative)
- Verben mit doppeltem Akkusativ (Verbs with double Accusative)
- Verben mit Dativ (Verbs with Dative)
- Verben mit Akkusativ & Dativ (Verbs with Accusative & Dative)
- Verben mit Genitiv (Verbs with Genitive)
- Verben mit Präpositionen (Verbs with Prepositions)
Lists on the topic of German verbs:
- Die 30 wichtigsten Verben mit Vokalwechsel (The 30 most important verbs with vowel change)
- Untrennbare Präfixe (Inseparable Prefixes)
- Wechselpräfixe (Two-case Prefixes)
- Unregelmäßige Partizip 2 Formen (Irregular Participle 2 forms)
- Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen (Noun-Verb compounds)
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
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