Zustandspassiv Glossary of terms

The Zustandspassiv is a passive form that describes the resulting state of a previous action, focusing on the final condition.

Additional Information

  • Translations: statal passive, static passive, resultative passive
  • Related concepts: Vorgangspassiv, Partizip Perfekt, Passiv

Detailed Explanation

This construction is used to emphasize the current state of something, resulting from a previous action, without mentioning who performed that action. It differs from the processual passive (Vorgangspassiv) in that the latter focuses on the action itself.

The Zustandspassiv is formed with the verb 'sein' conjugated in the desired tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Usage examples of "Zustandspassiv"

📝 Some usage examples:
  1. Die Tür ist geschlossen.The door is closed (as a result of someone having closed it earlier).
  2. Der Brief war schon geschrieben.The letter was already written (emphasizes the resulting state, not the action of writing).
  3. Das Haus wird renoviert sein.The house will be renovated (describes the future state after the renovation).
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