Zustandspassiv (Status Passive)

In German, there are two types of passive: Process Passive (Vorgangspassiv) and Status Passive (Zustandspassiv). They have different meanings, constructions, and uses. In this lesson we focus on the status passive.

The Status Passive (Zustandspassiv)

In the Vorgangspassiv, the focus is on the action. In the status passive, the action has already been completed, and the focus is on the status after the action. Therefore, only verbs that result in a change of status can be put into the status passive voice.

Who does the action and causes the change in status is not important.

Examples:

• „Die Frau wurde angefahren. Sie ist verletzt.“

The „anfahren“ action is already completed here. During the action the woman was injured.

⇒ Her current condition: She is injured.

⇒ Who hit the woman again does not matter or is unknown.

Constructing the Zustandspassiv

Present Tense

It's made of two parts:

sein + past participle

Example:

• „Das Fenster ist geöffnet.“

"Sein" is conjugated and the past participle goes at the end of the sentence.

With Modal Verbs

It's made of three parts.

modal verb + past participle + sein

Example:

• „Das Fenster muss geöffnet sein.“

The modal verb is conjugated and "sein" goes at the end of the sentence. The past participle goes in the second to last position.

Zustandspassiv in All Tenses

It is impossible to form the status passive in any other tense.

Examples of the Zustandspassiv

Present:

• „Der Mann ist schwer verletzt."
• „Der Zaun ist frisch gestrichen."

Simple Past:

• „Der Mann war schwer verletzt."
• „Der Zaun war frisch gestrichen."

Future 1:

• „Der Mann wird schwer verletzt sein."
• „Der Zaun wird frisch gestrichen sein."