Level: B2 Entry Focus: Participles as Adjectives (Partizip I & Partizip II).
Part 1: Story & Dialogue
Context: Detective Müller and Officer Schmidt are at a crime scene. Note how they use verbs (crying, stolen, fleeing) as adjectives to describe things quickly.
Müller: „Also, Schmidt. Was ist die Situation?“
So, Schmidt. What is the situation?
Schmidt: „Wir haben ein gestohlenes Auto und ein weinendes Opfer.“
We have a stolen car and a crying victim.
Müller: „Wer ist das Opfer?“
Who is the victim?
Schmidt: „Die Dame dort. Sie steht vor dem zerstörten Zaun.“
The lady over there. She is standing in front of the destroyed fence.
Müller: „Haben wir Hinweise auf den Täter?“
Do we have clues about the perpetrator?
Schmidt: „Ein Zeuge hat einen weglaufenden Mann gesehen.“
A witness saw a running-away man.
Schmidt: „Der Mann trug eine zerrissene Jacke.“
The man was wearing a torn jacket.
Müller: „Interessant. Gibt es Überwachungskameras?“
Interesting. Are there surveillance cameras?
Schmidt: „Ja, aber das aufgenommene Video ist unscharf.“
Yes, but the recorded video is blurry.
Schmidt: „Man sieht nur ein fahrendes Auto.“
One sees only a driving (moving) car.
Müller: „Okay. Wir müssen die umliegenden Straßen sperren.“
Okay. We must block the surrounding streets.
Müller: „Und beruhigen Sie die zitternde Frau.“
And calm down the trembling woman.
Schmidt: „Wird gemacht, Chef.“
Will do, Boss.
Schmidt: „Ich suche nach dem passenden Formular für den Bericht.“
I am searching for the fitting (appropriate) form for the report.
Part 2: Vocabulary Section (Verb Adjective)
Verb (Infinitive): „schlafen“ (to sleep) Partizip I (Active/Ongoing): „schlafend“ (sleeping) Partizip II (Passive/Done): „geschlafen“ (slept)
Verb (Infinitive): „stehlen“ (to steal) Partizip I (Active/Ongoing): „stehlend“ (stealing) Partizip II (Passive/Done): „gestohlen“ (stolen)
Verb (Infinitive): „kochen“ (to cook/boil) Partizip I (Active/Ongoing): „kochend“ (boiling) Partizip II (Passive/Done): „gekocht“ (cooked)
Verb (Infinitive): „zerstören“ (to destroy) Partizip I (Active/Ongoing): „zerstörend“ (destroying) Partizip II (Passive/Done): „zerstört“ (destroyed)
Verb (Infinitive): „laufen“ (to run) Partizip I (Active/Ongoing): „laufend“ (running) Partizip II (Passive/Done): „gelaufen“ (run)
Verb (Infinitive): „gebrauchen“ (to use) Partizip I (Active/Ongoing): „gebrauchend“ (using) Partizip II (Passive/Done): „gebraucht“ (used)
Part 3: Grammar Focus
Topic: Participles as Adjectives
In German, you can take almost any verb and use it like an adjective (describing a noun). You just have to apply the Adjective Endings (from Phase 4) to them.
1. Partizip I (The "d" Form) Active / Ongoing Use this when the noun IS DOING the action right now.
Formation: Infinitive + d. Example: The dog sleeps („schlafen“).
The sleeping dog.
„Der schlafende Hund.“
Example: The water boils („kochen“).
The boiling water.
„Das kochende Wasser.“
2. Partizip II (The "ge" Form) Passive / Completed Use this when the action was DONE TO the noun.
Formation: This is the standard Past Participle (ge--t / ge--en) you know from the Perfekt tense. Example: The car was stolen („gestohlen“).
The stolen car.
„Das gestohlene Auto.“
Example: The car is used („gebraucht“).
A used car.
„Ein gebrauchtes Auto.“
3. Comparison: Active vs. Passive The difference is crucial.
Active (Partizip I): „Der kochende Mann“ (The man who is cooking). Passive (Partizip II): „Der gekochte Mann“ (The man who was cooked - Cannibalism context!).
Active: „Die bezahlende Frau“ (The woman who is paying). Passive: „Die bezahlte Frau“ (The woman who was paid).
4. Adding Endings (The Phase 4 Review) Once you turn the verb into a Participle, it behaves 100% like a normal adjective (gut, schön, rot). You must add the correct ending (-e, -en, -es, -er).
Nominative: „Der bellende Hund“ (The barking dog).
Accusative: „Ich höre den bellenden Hund.“
Dative: „Mit dem gestohlenen Auto.“
No Article: „Kochendes Wasser“ (Boiling water).
Part 4: Advanced Insight (Why use this?)
This grammar allows you to shorten sentences. This is the key to B2/C1 fluency.
B1 Style (Relative Clause): „Das Auto, das gestohlen wurde, ist rot.“ (The car, which was stolen, is red.)
B2 Style (Participle): „Das gestohlene Auto ist rot.“ (The stolen car is red.)