Participles as Adjectives (Partizip I & II)

Overview

In German, both Partizip I (present participle) and Partizip II (past participle) can be placed before a noun as adjectives. When used this way, they follow the same declension rules as any other adjective — weak, mixed, or strong endings depending on the article.

This is a powerful tool for making your German more expressive and natural-sounding:

• Partizip I describes an ongoing action (like English -ing): das lachende Kind = the laughing child
• Partizip II describes a completed action, often with a passive meaning: das reparierte Auto = the repaired car

The key insight: formation and declension are two separate steps. First you form the participle, then you add the adjective ending.

Partizip I Formation

The Rule: Infinitive + d

Partizip I is formed by adding -d to the infinitive. This works for all verbs without exception:

Partizip I as Adjective

When used before a noun, add the appropriate adjective ending to the Partizip I form:

das lachend + e Kind = das lachende Kind — the laughing child (weak, nom. neuter)

ein schlafend + es Baby = ein schlafendes Baby — a sleeping baby (mixed, nom. neuter)

mit kochend + em Wasser = mit kochendem Wasser — with boiling water (strong, dat. neuter)

More Examples in Sentences

Die spielenden Kinder lachen laut. — The playing children laugh loudly.

Er beobachtet den vorbeifahrenden Zug. — He watches the passing train.

Sie hat einen bellenden Hund gehört. — She heard a barking dog.

Der Geruch von brennendem Holz erfüllt die Luft. — The smell of burning wood fills the air.

Wir sehen die aufgehende Sonne. — We watch the rising sun.

Meaning: Active and Ongoing

Partizip I always has an active meaning — the noun is performing the action, and the action is in progress:

• das singende Mädchen = the girl who is singing
• der laufende Mann = the man who is running
• die wachsende Stadt = the city that is growing

Partizip II Formation

Partizip II formation depends on whether the verb is regular (weak) or irregular (strong), and whether it has a separable or inseparable prefix.

Regular (Weak) Verbs: ge- + stem + -t

*Verbs ending in -ieren do not add ge-.

Irregular (Strong) Verbs: ge- + changed stem + -en

Verbs with Inseparable Prefixes: No ge-

Verbs with the inseparable prefixes be-, er-, ver-, zer-, ent-, emp-, miss- do not add ge-:

Verbs with Separable Prefixes: prefix + ge- + stem

Partizip II as Adjective

Just like Partizip I, add the adjective ending:

das repariert + e Auto = das reparierte Auto — the repaired car (weak, nom. neuter)

ein gebrochen + er Arm = ein gebrochener Arm — a broken arm (mixed, nom. masc.)

mit gestohlen + em Geld = mit gestohlenem Geld — with stolen money (strong, dat. neuter)

More Examples in Sentences

Der empfohlene Film war wirklich gut. — The recommended film was really good.

Ich esse gern gekochte Eier. — I like to eat boiled eggs.

Die eingeladenen Gäste kommen um acht. — The invited guests come at eight.

Wir trinken frisch gepressten Orangensaft. — We drink freshly squeezed orange juice.

Das vergessene Passwort muss zurückgesetzt werden. — The forgotten password must be reset.

Meaning: Completed and Often Passive

Partizip II as an adjective usually has a passive meaning — the action has been done to the noun:

• das reparierte Auto = the car that has been repaired
• der geschriebene Brief = the letter that was written
• die gestohlene Tasche = the bag that was stolen

For intransitive verbs of motion/change, it can have an active meaning:

• der angekommene Zug = the train that has arrived
• die gewachsene Stadt = the city that has grown

Declension Rules

Partizip adjectives follow exactly the same endings as regular adjectives. Here is a summary:

After Definite Articles (Weak Declension)

Rule: -e in nominative (all genders) and accusative feminine/neuter; -en everywhere else.

After Indefinite Articles (Mixed Declension)

Rule: Where "ein" has no ending (nom. masc., nom./akk. neuter), the adjective takes the strong ending (-er, -es). Elsewhere: -en.

Partizip II with Weak Declension (Examples)

Partizip I vs. Partizip II: Meaning Contrast

Understanding the difference is crucial:

Tips

1. Two steps, always: First form the participle (infinitive + d, or ge- + stem + t/en), then add the adjective ending. Never skip a step.
2. Partizip I = -ing (active, happening now). If you can say "the ___-ing thing" in English, use Partizip I: the laughing child = das lachende Kind.
3. Partizip II = -ed/-en (passive, already done). If you can say "the ___-ed thing" in English, use Partizip II: the repaired car = das reparierte Auto.
4. The declension is identical to normal adjectives. There is nothing special about participle endings — if you know adjective declension, you already know this.
5. Common Partizip II adjectives are worth memorizing as vocabulary: bekannt (known), beliebt (popular), geeignet (suitable), geschlossen (closed), geöffnet (open), verboten (forbidden), erlaubt (allowed).
6. Partizip I is rarer in everyday speech — Germans often prefer a relative clause: das Kind, das lacht instead of das lachende Kind. But in writing and formal contexts, participle adjectives are very common and expected.
7. Watch for inseparable prefixes: No ge- with be-, er-, ver-, zer-, ent-, emp-, miss-. This applies whether the participle is used as an adjective or in a verb tense.