Partizipialsätze (Participles as Adjectives and Participle Phrases)
German participles can be used like adjectives in front of a noun, where they take normal adjective endings: das schwimmende Kind (the swimming child), das gestohlene Fahrrad (the stolen bike). They often replace a relative clause.
Partizip I: -end (active, at the same time)
The present participle is the infinitive + -d: schwimmen → schwimmend, telefonieren → telefonierend. It has an active meaning: the noun is doing the action, at the same time as the main event. English uses -ing.
Das schwimmende Kind ist mein Schüler.The swimming child is my pupil.
Die telefonierende Frau schreibt etwas auf.The woman on the phone is writing something down.
Der bellende Hund gehört unserem Nachbarn.The barking dog belongs to our neighbour.
With a relative clause: Das Kind, das schwimmt, ist mein Schüler. – Die Frau, die telefoniert, schreibt etwas auf.
Partizip II: passive or completed
The past participle (gestohlen, gekocht, vergessen) has a passive meaning with verbs that take an object: das gekochte Ei = the egg that has been boiled. With verbs that take no object and form the Perfekt with sein (ankommen, einschlafen), it shows that the action is finished: der angekommene Zug (the train that has arrived). Verbs that form the Perfekt with haben cannot be used this way without an object.
Das geschlossene Geschäft wurde letzte Woche verkauft.The shop that had closed down was sold last week.
Ich esse gern gekochte Eier.I like boiled eggs.
Das gestohlene Fahrrad wurde gefunden.The stolen bike has been found.
Das eingeschlafene Baby lächelt.The baby, who has fallen asleep, is smiling.
Longer participle phrases
In written German, a participle can have its own objects and adverbials. All of them go between the article and the participle, in front of the noun. English puts such phrases after the noun.
die auf dem Tisch vergessene Taschethe bag left on the table
der seit Stunden wartende Mannthe man who has been waiting for hours
ein von allen gelesenes Bucha book read by everyone
To understand a long phrase, find the article and the noun first, then read the words in between: Die auf dem Tisch vergessene Tasche gefällt mir. = Die Tasche, die auf dem Tisch vergessen wurde, gefällt mir. (I like the bag that was left on the table.)
Common mistake
die Tasche vergessen auf dem Tisch is wrong; correct: die auf dem Tisch vergessene Tasche
English puts the participle phrase after the noun (the bag left on the table). In German it comes before the noun, and the participle takes an adjective ending.
Common mistake
Das schwimmend Kind ist mein Schüler. is wrong; correct: Das schwimmende Kind ist mein Schüler.
Before a noun, a participle is declined like an adjective: after das the ending is -e.
Participle clauses
A participle can also start a short clause of its own, separated by a comma. This is mainly found in writing and works much like English: Laut lachend verließ er den Raum. (Laughing loudly, he left the room.) – In Berlin angekommen, rief sie ihre Mutter an. (Having arrived in Berlin, she called her mother.)
Check yourself
Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: