An action or an existing result?
Die Tür wird geschlossen reports the closing event. Die Tür ist geschlossen describes the closed condition. State passive does not tell you by itself when the action happened or whether the state still holds later. English “is closed” can cover meanings that German distinguishes through context and auxiliary.
Not every sein + Partizip II is state passive. Die Gäste sind angekommen is active Perfekt with sein. Ask whether the subject is presented in a state resulting from an action performed on it. Some participles also behave like adjectives; this reference uses clear result-state examples rather than forcing one analysis on every description.
State passive across tenses
| Tense | Resulting state: sein passive |
|---|---|
| Präsens | ist geprüft |
| Präteritum | war geprüft |
| Perfekt | ist geprüft gewesen |
| Plusquamperfekt | war geprüft gewesen |
| Futur I | wird geprüft sein |
| Futur II | wird geprüft gewesen sein |
State passive across tenses
The table completes the singular frame Der Anschluss … . Conjugate the finite auxiliary to match another subject. Long state-passive forms in the perfect, past perfect and Futur II are possible but uncommon and cumbersome. Start with clear present and past state descriptions; a time phrase can often express the intended reference more naturally.
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
3. The room is already in a cleaned state. Complete: Der Raum __ gereinigt.
Der Raum ist gereinigt. Sein presents the resulting state. Wird gereinigt would present a cleaning event.
Start with the topic overview
German werden passive: perspective, tense and subjects · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Is every sein plus participle a state passive?
No. Die Gäste sind angekommen is active Perfekt with sein. For a clear state-passive reading, identify the resulting condition of something affected by an action.
Sources and further learning
- IDS: Verbalkomplex
- IDS: Vertiefung — Passivfähigkeit
- IDS: Subjektloses werden-Passiv
- DeutschAkademie: Vorgangspassiv
- DeutschAkademie: Zustandspassiv
- DeutschAkademie: Passiv mit Modalverben
- DeutschAkademie: Passiv Ersatzformen
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