Es wird gesagt, Irland ist sehr → Man sagt, Irland ist sehr
schön. schön.
It is said that Ireland is very People say Ireland is very
beautiful. beautiful.Das Problem wurde geregelt. → Man regelte das Problem.
The problem resolved. Somebody resolved the problem.Note that the alternative structure with manis commonly used in German.The passive with sein
In a few instances, the passive in German is formed with the appropriate
form of sein+past participle. In contrast to the German passive with
werdenwhich describes an action or a process, the sein-passive focuses
on the state of a person or thing, often as a result of an action carried
out previously:Action Result
Der Tisch wirdgedeckt. → Der Tisch istgedeckt.
The table is being laid. The table is laid (i.e. as a result
(i.e. at this moment). of it having been laid).
Das Geschäft wird → Das Geschäft istgeschlossen.
geschlossen.
The shop is being closed. The shop is closed.
Die Stadt wurdewieder → Die Stadt warwieder aufgebaut.
aufgebaut.
The city was being rebuilt. The city was rebuilt again.Note that this form of the passive is much less used than the passive with
werdenand usually occurs in the present and simple past tense.Exercise 22.1
Supply the appropriate form of werdenin the present tense.Example: Ich ______ vom Bürgermeister begrüßt.
→Ichwerdevom Bürgermeister begrüßt.1 Du ______ hier sehr gut behandelt.
2 Ich ______ von einem Gewitter aufgeweckt.Unit 22: The passive voice 169