23 Other Uses of Participles

Present Participle

The present participle is formed by adding d to the infinitive form of the verb. Therefore, for danken "to thank", the present participle is dankend. Adjective endings are added if it is used as an adjective.

• Der schreiende Vogel schützt sein Nest. The shrieking bird protects its nest.
• Sie richten ihre Augen auf den ankommenden Zug. They turn their eyes towards the train that is coming.

Past Participles used as adjectives

Past participles can be used as adjectives. Adjective endings must be added.

• Sie hält den gebrochenen Teller. She is holding the broken plate.

Past participles can also be used predicatively as adjectives, to describe the general state or condition of something. In this usage, adjective endings are not added.

• Das Haus ist rot angestrichen. The house is painted red.

Passive Voice

We have only considered the active voice so far. In the active voice, the subject does something to the object.

• active: Der Hund beißt das Kind. The dog bites the child.

In the passive voice, the action is done to the subject, not to the object. The auxiliary verb werden "to become", in the present tense, is used together with the past participle to form the present tense passive.

• passive: Das Kind wird gebissen. The child is bitten.

The agent of the action can be shown using a prepositional phrase. The past participle goes to the end of the clause.

• Das Kind wird von dem Hund gebissen. The child is bitten by the dog.

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