German can turn verbs into adjectives with its two participles. The present participle describes something happening now; the past participle usually describes something that has been done.
The Partizip I (present participle) is the infinitive + -d: schlafen → schlafend, lachen → lachend, kommen → kommend. It is active and describes something that is happening at the same time, like English '-ing': das schlafende Kind = the child who is sleeping.
The Partizip II (past participle) is the form you know from the Perfekt: repariert, gestohlen, gekocht. With most verbs that take an object it is passive and describes something finished: das reparierte Auto = the car that has been repaired. With verbs that form the Perfekt with sein, it is active and finished: der angekommene Zug = the train that has arrived.
| Participle phrase | Meaning as a relative clause | English |
|---|---|---|
| das weinende Baby | das Baby, das weint | the crying baby |
| die steigenden Preise | die Preise, die steigen | the rising prices |
| die kommende Woche | die Woche, die kommt | next week |
| ein gebrauchtes Fahrrad | ein Fahrrad, das gebraucht wurde | a used bicycle |
| die gestohlene Tasche | die Tasche, die gestohlen wurde | the stolen bag |
| die gestiegenen Preise | die Preise, die gestiegen sind | the prices that have risen |
Before a noun, both participles take normal adjective endings, exactly like neu or klein. The ending depends on the article, gender and case:
Be careful with the form of the Partizip II: it is gestohlen, not gestohlend, so die gestohlene Tasche. And the Partizip I always has a d: kommend, folgend, entscheidend. Some of these are now ordinary adjectives: spannend (exciting), dringend (urgent), bekannt (well-known), verheiratet (married).
As an adverb. Without an ending, the Partizip I can describe how someone does something: Sie kam lachend ins Zimmer. – Er hat schweigend zugehört.
As a noun. Participles can become nouns with a capital letter and adjective endings: der/die Reisende (traveller), die Studierenden (students), der/die Angestellte (employee), der/die Verletzte (injured person). They change like adjectives: ein Angestellter, die Angestellten, alle Reisenden.
With extra information. You can add words before the participle: das gestern reparierte Auto, die seit Monaten steigenden Mieten. Longer phrases like these are typical of newspapers and formal texts; at B2 you will meet them as extended participial attributes.
To choose between the two participles, ask: is the noun doing the action right now (Partizip I) or has the action been done to it (Partizip II)? die lesende Frau (the woman who is reading) – das gelesene Buch (the book that has been read).
When you read a participle before a noun, turn it into a relative clause in your head. This helps you understand long official sentences: die beigefügten Unterlagen = die Unterlagen, die beigefügt sind (the enclosed documents).
| Not quite | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| das schlafen Kind | das schlafende Kind | The Partizip I needs -d and then an adjective ending: schlafend → schlafende. |
| ein reparierte Auto | ein repariertes Auto | After ein with a neuter noun, the adjective ending is -es. |
| die gestohlende Tasche | die gestohlene Tasche | The Partizip II of stehlen is gestohlen; it never takes -d. |
| der kommene Monat | der kommende Monat | The Partizip I is infinitive + d: kommend → der kommende Monat. |
1. Gib die Nudeln ins ___ Wasser.
2. Ich habe mir ein ___ Fahrrad gekauft – es ist erst zwei Jahre alt.
3. Das ___ Kind darf nicht geweckt werden.
4. Die Polizei hat die ___ Tasche gefunden.
5. In der ___ Woche habe ich Urlaub.
6. Der gerade ___ Zug kommt aus München.
7. Which phrase means 'the rising prices'?
8. Alle ___ müssen ihre Tickets vorzeigen.
Related grammar: Past participles, Adjective endings after der, Extended participial attributes.
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Original practice questions written by the Desi European Tales editorial team; they are not the official exam questions. Checked 1 November 2026.
Related: German grammar reference · German B1 lessons · Past participles
