Expressing a passive meaning in German

• Use the passive voice when talking about what is done to someone or something, but it is unknown or it does not matter who carried out the action.

• A passive meaning can be expressed in German by using the impersonal pronounman together with an active verb.

The impersonal pronoun man is used when no one specific is being referred to. Man is conjugated the same way as er, sie and es (third person singular).

Man can mean you, they or one.

For example:

• Man muss den Müll trennen.You must separate the rubbish.

• In Österreich spricht man Deutsch.They speak German in Austria.

• Man kann den Dom besichtigen.You/one can visit the cathedral.

Remember

Spelling matters - do not confuse manyou, they, one with Mannhusband, a man.

Man + an active verb can be used to express a passive meaning.

There are two voices: active and passive.

In the active voice, the subject performs the action.

For example: Lots of builders constructed the new bridge in 1965.

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.

For example: The new bridge was constructed in 1965 by lots of builders.

The focus is on the bridge, not who built it.

Using manan impersonal pronoun + an active verb gives a passive meaning, because man doesn’t refer to anyone specific.

The passive puts the emphasis on the thing that can be done, rather than who or what can do it:

• Man muss Menschenrechte respektieren.Human rights must be respected.

• Man soll Welthunger beenden.World hunger should be ended.

• Man hat die EU 1993 gegründet.The EU was founded in 1993.

What is the German translation of these sentences?

Practise what you've learned about passive meaning with this quiz.