Participle II as an adjective
Partizip II als Adjektiv
used as an attribute has passive, completed meaning: 'das gekochte Ei' = the boiled egg.
Structure
Partizip II + Adjektivendung (das gekochte Ei)
past participle + adjective ending (das gekochte Ei)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Participle
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
The Partizip II can be used as an attribute before a , where it takes endings. With transitive verbs it has a passive, completed meaning - something has been done to the .
- kochen → gekocht → das gekochte Ei - the boiled egg (the egg that was boiled)
- reparieren → repariert → das reparierte Auto - the repaired car
- öffnen → geöffnet → die geöffnete Tür - the opened door
Example: Sie servierte uns ein perfekt gekochtes Ei. - She served us a perfectly boiled egg.
Example: Das gestern geschriebene Protokoll liegt auf dem Tisch. - The minutes written yesterday are on the table.
Note the contrast with : Partizip II is passive/finished, Partizip I active/ongoing. There is one exception worth knowing: with intransitive motion verbs the is read actively: der angekommene Zug - the train that has arrived.
Common mistake: Omitting the ending (das gekocht Ei is wrong - it must be das gekochte Ei), and assuming the meaning is always passive (it is active with verbs like ankommen, einschlafen).
About Participle II as an adjective
used as an attribute has passive, completed meaning: 'das gekochte Ei' = the boiled egg.
The past can be used as an attribute and then takes endings. With transitive verbs it has passive, completed meaning ('die geöffnete Tür' = the door that has been opened).
Das als Attribut hat meist passive, abgeschlossene Bedeutung und wird wie ein dekliniert: das gekochte Ei.
Caution
With transitive verbs the meaning is passive ('das gelesene Buch' = the book that was read), but intransitive motion verbs give an active reading ('der angekommene Zug').