definite article + masculine singular noun in accusative (Schirm) = adjective ending -enĮxample: Der Schirm steht zusammengeklappt im Schirmständer. So she left the folded-up umbrella there. as an adjective or adverbial adjective (remember: when the past participle comes before the noun, we need to add an adjective ending)Įxample: Deshalb lässt sie den zusammengeklappten Schirm dort stehen.The past participle expresses a completed past action or a passive action. When to use the past participle in German With separable verbs, ge- goes after the prefix (see our list of separable/inseparable verbs in German).Įxample: ankommen – an gekommen arrive – arrived zuhören – zu gehört listen – listened.Inseparable verbs form their past participles without ge- (see our list of separable/inseparable verbs in German).Įxample: verstehen – verstanden understand – understood.

Verbs with the ending -ieren form the past participle without ge-.Įxample: stud ieren – studiert study – studied.If the verb stem ends in -d/-t, we add an extra - et to regular and mixed verbs.Įxample: war ten – gewart et wait – waited.Many irregular and mixed verbs change their stem in the past participle (see our list of irregular verbs)Įxample: gehen – ge gangen go – gone bringen – ge bracht bring - brought.irregular (strong) verbs take the ending -enĮxamples: sehen – geseh en see – seen treffen – getroff en meet – met Exceptions.regular (weak) verbs and mixed verbs take the ending -tĮxamples: lernen – gelern t learn – learned (regular verb) nennen – genann t name – named (mixed verb).The past participle ending depends on the type of verb: Generally, we form German past participles with the prefix ge- and the endings -t or -en. Example: gehen – ging – gegangen go – went – gone haben – hatte – gehabt have – had – had How to form the past participle in German Literally: the person who is learning die Reisenden the travellersĭas Partizip II (past participle) is the third form of the verb. definite article + feminine singular noun in nominative (Frau) = adjective ending -eĮxample: Sie verlässt lächelnd das Haus. as an adjective or adverbial adjective (remember: when the present participle comes before the noun, we need to add the correct adjective ending)Įxample: Die lächelnde Frau verlässt das Haus.Ms Kunze is walking towards the door and reaching for her bag. instead of: Frau Kunze läuft zur Tür und greift dabei nach ihrer Tasche.

Ms Kunze is reaching for her bag and walking towards the door.

in participle clauses the present participle action happens at the same time as the action in the main clauseĮxamples: Nach ihrer Tasche greifend läuft Frau Kunze zur Tür.

We use the German present participle for simultaneous actions or actions that are in progress at or around the moment of speaking. When to use the present participle in German

Present past past participle list