What is Passive Voice?

The passive voice focuses on the action or the object of the sentence rather than the subject performing the action.

Forming the Passive Voice

Use the verb werden and the past participle:
Subject + werden (conjugated) + past participle

Examples

• Der Brief wird geschrieben. (The letter is being written.)
• Das Essen wird gekocht. (The food is being cooked.)

When to Use Passive Voice

Use the passive voice when the focus is on the action or the recipient, and the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

Conclusion

Passive voice is common in formal writing and announcements. Practice transforming active sentences into passive ones to master it.