In German, the passive voice isn’t just one thing. Depending on whether you want to describe an action in progress or a finished result, you have to choose between two different auxiliary verbs: werden or sein.
This is the difference between Vorgangspassiv (Process Passive) and Zustandspassiv (State Passive). Let’s look at how to distinguish them so you never mix up your “beings” and “becomings” again.
1. Process Passive (Vorgangspassiv): The Action
The Vorgangspassiv focuses on the process itself. Something is happening right now, or someone is performing an action.
- Auxiliary Verb: werden (conjugated) + Partizip II.
- Focus: The dynamic movement or the transformation.
- Example: “Die Tür wird gerade geöffnet.” (The door is being opened — someone is turning the handle right now.)
2. State Passive (Zustandspassiv): The Result
The Zustandspassiv focuses on the state or the result after the action is finished. The process is over, and we are just looking at the final condition.
- Auxiliary Verb: sein (conjugated) + Partizip II.
- Focus: The static result or the new condition.
- Example: “Die Tür ist geöffnet.” (The door is open — it was opened earlier, and now it stays that way.)
3. Side-by-Side Comparison
Notice how the meaning shifts when we swap werden for sein:
| Situation | Vorgangspassiv (Action/Process) | Zustandspassiv (State/Result) |
| A car repair | Das Auto wird repariert. (It is being fixed right now.) | Das Auto ist repariert. (It is fixed/ready to go.) |
| A shop | Das Geschäft wird geschlossen. (They are locking the doors now.) | Das Geschäft ist geschlossen. (It is closed/not open.) |
| Dinner | Das Essen wird gekocht. (The chef is cooking.) | Das Essen ist gekocht. (Dinner is ready/served.) |
4. How to Choose? The “Action Test”
If you’re not sure which one to use, ask yourself: “Is it happening right now, or is it already done?”
- If you can add the word “gerade” (right now) -> Use Vorgangspassiv (werden).
- If you can add the word “schon” (already) -> Use Zustandspassiv (sein).
5. Word Order & Tenses
Both follow the same “verb bracket” rule: the auxiliary verb (sein/werden) stays in Position 2, and the Partizip II goes to the End.
- Präteritum Process: “Das Haus wurde gebaut.” (The house was being built.)
- Präteritum State: “Das Haus war gebaut.” (The house was built/already standing.)
💡 Summary Cheat Sheet
- Vorgangspassiv (werden): Use for actions, changes, and things in progress.
- Zustandspassiv (sein): Use for results, descriptions, and final states.
- The “By” Rule: You can only use von (by someone) in the Vorgangspassiv. You usually don’t use it in the Zustandspassiv because the “doer” is no longer relevant.
Final Thoughts
Mastering the difference between these two passives will make your German sound much more precise. It’s the difference between describing a movie (process) and looking at a photo (state).
Next Step: Now that you know the difference between states and processes, learn how to add more nuance to your passive sentences! Check out our guide on German Passive with Modal Verbs Explained Simply!