Last week, we talked about how the Vorgangspassiv in the present tense is formed using a conjugation of werden + infinitive and answers the question "What is done/will be done to [X]?". In order to answer the question "What has been/was done to [X]?" we need the perfect or past tense of the Vorgangspassiv.
The Vorgangspassiv im Perfekt is used to talk about an action that began in the past, but may not yet be finished. Just like the passive voice in the present tense, the focus is removed from the subject of the sentence and placed instead on the object, the action, or other details. It is formed thusly:
conjugation of sein + past participle + worden
Das ist vielfach versucht worden.
That has been tried numerous times.
Caption 70, Angela Merkel: beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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Schau mal: In diesem Satz ist kein einziges Wort dekliniert worden.
Take a look: In this sentence, not a single word has been declined.
Caption 20, Deutsch mit Eylin: Die 4 Fälle
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Guten Tag. Ist vielleicht was für mich abgegeben worden?
Hello. Has something been dropped off for me?
Caption 6, Die Pfefferkörner: Gerüchteküche
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Rund fünfhundert Figuren sind in der Ausstellung verbaut worden.
About five hundred figurines have been used to build the exhibition.
Caption 3, 500 000 Legosteine: Lübecker Museum zeigt Hansegeschichte
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For actions that are finished, we use the Vorgangspassiv im Präteritum. It has a slightly less complicated structure:
conjugation of werden + past participle
Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde Berlin in vier Sektoren unterteilt.
After the Second World War, Berlin was divided into four sectors.
Caption 1, Berlin: der alte amerikanische Sektor
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Aber die wurde in Hamburg leider 1978 abgeschafft.
But unfortunately, they were eliminated in Hamburg in 1978.
Caption 17, Deutsch mit Eylin: Öffentliche Verkehrsmittel in Hamburg
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Und auch das Fehlen von Dienstgeräten für Lehrkräfte wurde bemängelt.
And the lack of service equipment for teaching staff was also criticized.
Caption 16, DPA Deutsche Presse-Agentur: Schüler sollen günstiges Internet bekommen
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Die Kunstshow wurde von Konzeptkünstler Ottmar Hörl aus Nürnberg entwickelt.
The art show was developed by conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl from Nuremberg.
Caption 6, „Mini-Marxe“: In Trier
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In this last example, the subject of the sentence (Konzeptkünstler Ottmar Hörl) is mentioned using von, but the passive voice serves to keep the focus of the sentence equally on the art show itself.
Further Learning
We'll be back next week with a lesson on the Zustandspassiv. In the meantime, practice building sentences using theVorgangspassiv in all three tenses! You can find more examples of these structures on Yabla German.
Und Piggeldy fühlte, wie er immer kleiner und kleiner wurde und Frederick immer größer.
And Piggeldy felt that he was becoming smaller and smaller and Frederick bigger and bigger.
Captions 28-29, Piggeldy und Frederick: Sprichwörter
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When we talk about the size, number, or extent of something changing, there are a number of verbs we can use in order to not always just say kleiner werden or größer werden. The German verbs we pick often depend on whether the verb is transitive or intransitive. An intransitive verb doesn't require an object; something is simply happening almost as if on its own. The verbs above, and the verbs in the next examples are intransitive, and you can note that no cause is mentioned that is making the growth happen.
Der Bedarf an Flugreisen wird mit der Zeit immer größer, und die Anzahl der Flugzeuge wird stark zunehmen.
The need for air travel will increase over time, and the number of planes will rise sharply.
Captions 34-35, Die Welt in der Zukunft: Flugzeuge im Jahr 2050
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Der Anteil der Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund in dieser Gruppe wird ansteigen.
the percentage of children with migration backgrounds in this group will rise.
Caption 9, Angela Merkel: beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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If you want to describe humans, animals, or objects that are growing in size, wachsen is quite often the appropriate verb to use. It should be noted that the verb for plants growing is wachsen, but this is only intransitive. If you are growing flowers or vegetables, your activity "to grow something" is etwas anbauen or etwas züchten.
„Du malst die blauen Blumen, die im grünen Wald wachsen“, sagte Frederick.
“You paint the blue flowers that grow in the green forest," Frederick said.
Caption 17, Piggeldy und Frederick: Malen
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Now let's look at some examples with transitive verbs, in which something is being done by someone. In these sentences, that which is increasing or rising is an object:
Dies hat uns dazu genötigt, unsere Preise stark anzuheben.
This has made it necessary for us to increase our prices significantly.
Caption 20, Berufsleben: Probleme mit Mitarbeitern
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Ziel der Aktion: die Attraktivität der Innenstadt erhöhen.
The aim of the campaign: to increase the attractiveness of the city center
Caption 9, Rheinmain im Blick Stadtmomente: Wiesbaden
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Um die Attraktivität der Elektrofahrzeuge zu steigern, wird es ab Mitte zweitausendfünfzehn zwei Dinge geben.
In order to increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles, there will, starting in the middle of two thousand fifteen, be two things.
Captions 5-6, Rhein-Main-TV: Veränderungen für das Autofahrerjahr 2015
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Further Learning
We'll be back soon with a lesson on verbs that describe decreasing, shrinking, and falling. In the meantime, try to make your own sentences with the verbs above or do a search on Yabla.
An indefinite pronoun describes an indefinite number of things or people. Words such as "few," "some," "many," and "most" are indefinite pronouns. The German indefinite pronoun manch can be a bit difficult to translate when used as an adjective paired to noun.
The pronoun manch suggests "some" or "a few" things or persons—enough to be significant—but not "many" things or people, which inherently may suggest "most." The indefinite pronoun manch is usually translated as "some" when used in a plural sense:
Manche Menschen sind immer hungrig und werden nie satt.
Some people are always hungry and never get full.
Caption 33, Deutsch mit Eylin: Adjektive und ihre Gegenteile
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Manche Länder bilden auf der Rückseite ihre Königin oder ihren König ab.
Some countries depict their queen or their king on the reverse side.
Caption 7, Sparefroh-TV: Warum sehen die Euromünzen in jedem Land anders aus?
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You run into a problem, however, when you encounter manch used in a singular sense, because the indefinite pronoun "some" can only be used in the plural form in English. If you say "some man," you mean one single man, which is different than "some men." Even if you say, for example, "some person or another," which might at first seem singular because "person" is singular, by adding "or another" you are still referring in plural to two or more people.
If you try to translate the singular version of manch on Google Translate, it translates "some" correctly, but renders the noun and verb less literally as plural. Whereas if you translate the singular version of manch on DeepL, it keeps the noun and verb singular, but instead of using "some," it translates manch as "Many a..." This is problematic, because as we also discussed, manch implies the smaller proportion ("some") of those mentioned, not the larger proportion ("many").
Original German phrase using:
Mancher Finanzminister ist...
Google translation:
Some finance ministers are...
Deepl translation:
Many a finance minister is...
DeepL retains the singular of the noun and verb, but translates manch as "many," suggesting falsely "most" of the finance ministers, rather than "some" or "few," as the original German suggested. Because of the erroneous translation of manch as many, the less literal Google translation is the better compromise. There is actually no way to translate manch in German and retain this literal accuracy with the singular of the noun and verb, since in English, all indefinite pronouns such as "some" (or "a few of..." etc.) require a plural noun and verb.
Notice, in this next example, that Pflanze is singular and uses the singular verb form ist. In both examples, the singular noun and verb in German have had to be translated into the plural in order to get the correct meaning of manch:
Manche Pflanze, wie das flammende Indische Springkraut, ist grad erst bei uns eingewandert.
Some plants, such as the flaming Himalayan balsam, have migrated to our area only recently.
Caption 31, Die letzten Paradiese: Die Schönheit der Alpen
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Mancher Finanzminister der Länder ist der Meinung...
Some state finance ministers are of the opinion...
Caption 15, Angela Merkel: beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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It's a subtle difference, but when somebody with a large audience is making a statement that needs to be precise, such as (soon to be former) German Chancellor Angel Merkel, it can be an important distinction.
Further Learning
Go to Yabla German and look for videos using manch as an adjective before a noun. Then make up some German sentences using manch with a singular noun and verb, and practice translating them using "some" and changing the noun and verb to plural. Have your teacher or a fellow pupil or student check your work.
You may have noticed that the German verb finden doesn't only mean "to find" as in "to locate" or "to retrieve," but also has another meaning:
Und ich finde wirklich, dass sie in dieser Zeit am besten schmecken.
And I really think that they taste best during this time.
Captions 19-20, Deutsch mit Eylin: Gemüse aus Deutschland
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Die meisten Menschen finden Warzenschweine hässlich.
Most people find warthogs ugly.
Caption 28, Deutsch mit Eylin: Adjektive und ihre Gegenteile
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The verbs denken ("to think") and glauben ("to believe") can also be used to express opinions. Then there is the question of the verb meinen. This verb can either be translated as "to mean" in the sense of referring to something, but also in the sense of having an opinion.
Du meinst, die machen Überstunden? -Illegale Überstunden.
You mean that they are working overtime? -Illegal overtime.
Caption 21, Großstadtrevier: Von Monstern und Mördern
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Eins meinte, Stroh wäre das richtige.
One thought that straw would be the right thing.
Caption 26, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Die drei kleinen Schweinchen
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One word for "the opinion" in German is die Meinung. For expressing your opinion with this noun, there are two different constructions to know about:
Was den Nahen-Ost-Friedensprozess anbelangt, so, bin ich der Meinung, dass die Kerry-Initiative eine gute Grundlage ist, um Friedensgespräche wieder in Gang zu bringen.
With regard to the Middle East peace process, well, I am of the opinion that the Kerry initiative is a good basis to restart the peace talks.
Captions 59-61, Angela Merkel: Gemeinsame Pressekonferenz mit Barack Obama
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Mancher Finanzminister der Länder ist der Meinung, das tun wir heute schon.
Some state finance ministers are of the opinion that we are already doing that today.
Captions 15-16, Angela Merkel: beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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Es hat aber meiner Meinung nach natürlich auch sogar einen Forschungscharakter.
But in my opinion it also of course has a research character.
Caption 39, Für Tierfreunde: Przewalski-Wildpferde
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Ihrer Meinung nach ist der Beluga-Wal der wahre Gewinner.
In their opinion, the beluga whale is the real winner.
Caption 57, Die Top Ten: Die 12 freundlichsten Meerestiere der Welt
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Another noun that can be used similarly is die Ansicht, which can also mean "the perspective" or "the point of view." Here are a few more examples:
Und ich bin der Ansicht, dass das die neuen Volkslieder der neuen Generation sind.
And I am of the opinion that these are the new folk songs of the new generation.
Captions 12-13, Heino Neue Volkslieder
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Das Geld ist meiner Ansicht nach nicht verloren.
In my opinion, the money isn't lost yet.
Caption 29, Finanzkrise Die Lehman-Pleite
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Further Learning
Using the verbs and phrases above, build some sentences that express your opinions about food, politics, languages, movies... whatever you want! And, as always, you can find further examples on Yabla German.
For our beginners, we are devoting this week's newsletter to expressing probability, or the likelihood that something will occur or be the case. There is a range of adverbs that can help you express this in German.
When something is certain, common adverbs used are definitiv, sicher, or bestimmt. "Definitely" is also among the common translations of the phrase auf jeden Fall.
Für Kerber steht fest,
For Kerber it is certain
dass sie die Abstiegsrunde im April definitiv spielen wird.
that she will definitely play at the relegation round in April.
Caption 19, Angelique Kerber - Fotoshooting mit Porsche
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Na ja, es wird sicher kein Problem sein,
Well, it will certainly not be a problem
den Internetbetreiber zu zwingen, den Film zu löschen.
to compel the internet provider to delete the movie.
Captions 6-7, Die Pfefferkörner - Gerüchteküche
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Die Kündigung hat bestimmt andere Gründe.
The layoff surely has other reasons.
Caption 30, Berufsleben - Probleme mit Mitarbeitern
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Oh, wow! Dann wirst du ihn auf jeden Fall wiedersehen, oder?
Oh, wow! Then you will definitely see him again, right?
Caption 47, Die Wohngemeinschaft - Die Verabredung
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The best translation of "likely" and "unlikely" or "probable" and "improbable" in German is wahrscheinlich and unwahrscheinlich.
Wahrscheinlich brauchen wir noch ein bisschen Nachhaltigkeitsunterstützung.
We likely still need a little bit of support with sustainability.
Caption 77, Angela Merkel - beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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Dass der Winter noch mal in voller Wucht zu uns zurückkommt,
That winter will return to us in full force
ist im Moment aber ohnehin eher unwahrscheinlich.
is, momentarily, however, without a doubt rather improbable.
Captions 41-42, Rheinmain im Blick - Frühling im Zoo
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Like wahrscheinlich, the word wohl as an adverb also signifies that something is likely or probable. Eventuell, vielleicht and möglicherweise are used when something is possible but can't be guaranteed.
Und das wird wohl auch erst mal so bleiben.
And it will first also likely stay like that.
Caption 19, Andreas Bourani - Startet durch
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Es kann sein, dass wir eventuell etwas Milch brauchen.
It could be that we'll maybe need some milk.
Caption 12, Sallys Tortenwelt und Kochwelt - Apfelkuchen mit Marzipan und Mandelsplittern
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Vielleicht wird's morgen für mich regnen.
Maybe it will rain for me tomorrow.
Caption 15, Andreas Bourani - Eisberg
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Das Kartengerät ist möglicherweise schon seit Wochen angezapft.
The card reader was possibly tapped for weeks.
Caption 44, Großstadtrevier - Neben der Spur
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Just as auf jeden Fall means definitely, auf keinen Fall means that something definitely will not occur, by no means.
Na, du wirst auf gar keinen Fall arbeiten.
Well, you won't work in any case.
Caption 45, Küss mich, Frosch - Für immer Frosch?
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Further Learning
Create your own sentences in which you describe how likely certain events are to happen, from the definite or most likely to the most improbable. If you need more guidance, you can find many more examples of these adverbs in use on Yabla German.
The basic definition of the noun das Handeln is "the action." As a verb, handeln can mean "to act" or "to take action," but also "to trade," "to deal in," or "to bargain."
Wenn sich die eigenen Kinder einen Hund als Haustier wünschen, sollten Eltern nicht gleich voreilig handeln.
If their own children wish to have a dog as a pet, parents shouldn't just act hastily.
Captions 12-13, Haustiere als Geschenk? - Vier Pfoten unterm Weihnachtsbaum
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Und letztendlich hab' ich dann eben versucht, in Währungen zu handeln und in Rohstoffen und so weiter.
And in the end I just tried to deal in currencies and in commodities and so on.
Captions 10-11, Rhein-Main-TV aktuell - Börsen-Gewinnspiel
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However, you may have also seen the construction sich um etwas handeln, which can be translated as "to be a case of," "to be a matter of," "to be about," "to be dealing with," or "to have to do with." Pay attention to how the order of the words in the phrase is altered to fit into the sentence constructions.
Es handelt sich also um akut verfügbare Maßnahmen
So it is a matter of provisions made immediately available.
Caption 21, Angela Merkel - beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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Ich habe gedacht, es kann sich nur um doppelt vergebene Nachnamen handeln.
I thought it could only have to do with duplicately given last names.
Caption 19, Großstadtrevier - Von Monstern und Mördern
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Aber prüfe genau, ob es sich auch wirklich um eine Prinzessin handelt!
But check carefully whether you're really dealing with a princess!
Caption 24, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse
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Ja, der Frühling. Der kommt bestimmt bald. Kann sich ja nur noch um Monate handeln.
Yes, spring. Surely it will come soon. It can only be a matter of months now.
Caption 26, Umfragen - Zootiere im Winter
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Further Learning
Look up related words such as die Handlung, die Verhandlung, and verhandeln using your favorite dictionary and search for examples on Yabla German.
Most nouns that are masculine and end in -e in their nominative singular form are called weak nouns, or schwache Substantive. Since most German nouns ending in -e are feminine, these exceptions are easy to recognize. There are, however, also weak nouns that don't end in -e in the nominative singular form, and these are harder to recognize. Many of these words are very similar to their English equivalents and relate to professions or politics. They can often be recognized by the fact that they end in -ant or -ist.
What sets them apart from other nouns is the fact that in all cases except for nominative, they end in -en or -n.
Here's an example of the weak noun der Präsident with the -en ending in the singular dative case:
... und hab' auch mit dem französischen Präsidenten darüber gesprochen.
... and I've also talked to the French President about this.
Caption 68, Angela Merkel - beim Nachhaltigkeitsrat
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And the weak noun der Elefant in the singular accusative case:
Frederick, zeig mir einen Elefanten!
Frederick, show me an elephant!
Caption 3, Piggeldy und Frederick - Der Elefant
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And finally, der Mensch in the singular genitive case:
Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar.
The dignity of a human being is inviolable.
Caption 38, Integration von Nationalitäten - Hessen miteinander
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Further Learning
Visit this page to see more examples of weak nouns, and visit Yabla German to find more examples of weak masculine nouns in practice.
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