Partizip als Adjektiv (Participles as Adjectives)

Both Partizip I and Partizip II can be placed before a noun as adjectives. They follow normal adjective declension rules.

Partizip I as Adjective

Partizip I = Infinitiv + -d (spielen → spielend, laufen → laufend)

Meaning: active, ongoing action — the noun IS doing something.

Partizip II as Adjective

Partizip II = ge- + stem + -t/-en (gemacht, geschrieben, gefahren)

Meaning: passive, completed action — something was DONE to the noun.

The Key Difference

Declension

Partizip I and Partizip II adjectives decline like regular adjectives. Here is the weak declension (after definite article), the most common:

Partizip I — spielend (playing):

Partizip II — geschrieben (written): Same pattern — replace spielend- with geschrieben-.

Common Partizip I Adjectives

These are frequently used as adjectives in German:

• das spielende Kind — the playing child
• das kochende Wasser — the boiling water
• der schlafende Mann — the sleeping man
• die lachende Frau — the laughing woman
• das laufende Programm — the running programme

Common Partizip II Adjectives

• das geschriebene Wort — the written word
• das gekaufte Auto — the purchased car
• die gebrochene Vase — the broken vase
• das geöffnete Fenster — the opened window
• der gekochte Reis — the cooked rice

Connection to Passive Voice

A Partizip II used as an adjective is closely related to the Zustandspassiv (state passive). Compare:

• Das Fenster ist geöffnet. — Zustandspassiv (the window is in an opened state)
• das geöffnete Fenster — Partizip II as attributive adjective (the opened window)

For the full passive voice, see Passiv.

Common Mistakes

More Examples