Partizip Perfekt (Past Participle)
The Partizip Perfekt is used to describe completed actions and is a key component in forming compound tenses such as the Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt, and Futur II. It is also used as an adjective or in passive voice constructions.
Mood:
The Partizip Perfekt is a non-finite form, meaning it does not indicate a specific mood like the indicative or subjunctive. It serves to express completed actions without being tied to a specific subject or tense.
- Mood: Non-finite (expresses completed actions without tense or subject)
Usage:
- To form compound tenses (with haben or sein): Ich habe das Buch gelesen. (I have read the book.)
- To form the passive voice: Das Haus wurde gebaut. (The house was built.)
- As an adjective: Das gesagte Wort. (The spoken word.)
Formation:
The Partizip Perfekt is typically formed by adding ge- to the verb stem and adding -t for regular verbs or -en for irregular verbs. For separable verbs, the ge- comes between the prefix and the verb stem.
Regular Verb Conjugation:
| Verb Type | Example Verb | Partizip Perfekt |
|---|---|---|
| -EN Verbs | spielen (to play) | gespielt |
| -EN Verbs | machen (to do) | gemacht |
Irregular Verb Conjugation:
| Verb Type | Example Verb | Partizip Perfekt |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular Verb | schreiben (to write) | geschrieben |
| Irregular Verb | trinken (to drink) | getrunken |
Irregular Verbs:
Some common irregular verbs and their past participles:
- Sein (to be): gewesen
- Haben (to have): gehabt
- Gehen (to go): gegangen
- Kommen (to come): gekommen
Examples:
- Wir haben das Essen gemacht. (We have made the food.)
- Das Haus wurde gebaut. (The house was built.)
- Er hat den Brief geschrieben. (He has written the letter.)
