German · B1 · Family moment
Behind Project Doors in German
Explore preparations for your child's school project. Use the German present process passive to describe what is being done, without needing to say who is doing it.
What you'll learn
- Describe school project preparations using werden + Partizip II.
- Choose wird or werden to match the subject.
- Distinguish the present process passive from Futur I.
- Understand useful vocabulary for preparing a school exhibition.
German phrases for behind project doors
Die Tische werden in die Aula gebracht.
The tables are being moved into the hall.
Die Aula is the school assembly hall. In die Aula uses the accusative because the tables are moving to a destination.
Euer Klassenplakat wird heute gedruckt.
Your class poster is being printed today.
Euer means 'your' when referring to something belonging to the child and their classmates. The singular subject Klassenplakat takes wird.
Die Modelle werden vor der Ausstellung überprüft.
The models are being checked before the exhibition.
Vor der Ausstellung means 'before the exhibition'. Vor takes the dative in this time expression.
Ein kurzes Video wird für die Schulwebsite aufgenommen.
A short video is being recorded for the school website.
Aufgenommen is the past participle of aufnehmen, 'to record'. Für takes the accusative.
Die Eltern werden per E-Mail eingeladen.
The parents are being invited by email.
Per E-Mail describes the method of sending the invitation, not who sends it.
Die Projektergebnisse werden in kleinen Gruppen präsentiert.
The project results are being presented in small groups.
In kleinen Gruppen uses the dative plural to describe the group setting.
Das Klassenzimmer wird für die Besucher geschmückt.
The classroom is being decorated for the visitors.
Geschmückt means 'decorated', for example with posters, garlands or other festive touches.
Die Materialien werden in Kisten einsortiert.
The materials are being sorted into boxes.
Einsortieren means to put things into appropriate places or categories. Its past participle is einsortiert, without ge-.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Aula, die Aulen
school assembly hall
A large room for school gatherings or exhibitions, rather than a corridor.
das Klassenplakat, die Klassenplakate
class poster
A compound noun: Klasse + Plakat. The final noun, Plakat, determines the gender.
die Ausstellung, die Ausstellungen
exhibition
Useful for an event where pupils display their project work.
überprüfen
to check
Past participle: überprüft. This verb has no ge- in its participle.
aufnehmen
to record
Past participle: aufgenommen. Use it for recording a video or audio.
einladen
to invite
Past participle: eingeladen. Eine Einladung is an invitation.
das Projektergebnis, die Projektergebnisse
project result
Often used in the plural for what pupils have discovered or produced.
die Kiste, die Kisten
box; crate
Usually a sturdy container. A cardboard box can be called ein Karton.
Present process passive: werden + Partizip II
The process passive focuses on an action and what or who it affects. Use the present tense of werden plus a past participle. German has no separate continuous passive form, so context tells you whether the meaning is 'is done' or 'is being done'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject | singular subject + wird + ... + Partizip II | Das Klassenplakat wird heute gedruckt. |
| Plural subject | plural subject + werden + ... + Partizip II | Die Modelle werden überprüft. |
| Word order in a statement | werden in second position; Partizip II at the end | Heute wird das Klassenzimmer geschmückt. |
Focus on the action, not the person doing it
The person doing the action can be left out when they are unknown or unimportant. To name them, use von + dative. An expression such as per E-Mail instead tells you how something is done.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active | person doing the action + active verb + object | Die Lehrerin überprüft die Modelle. |
| Passive without the person | affected subject + werden + Partizip II | Die Modelle werden überprüft. |
| Passive with the person | affected subject + werden + von + dative + Partizip II | Die Modelle werden von der Lehrerin überprüft. |
Present passive versus Futur I
Both constructions use werden, but the final verb form is different. The present passive uses a past participle; Futur I uses an infinitive. Werden alone does not mean that a sentence refers to the future.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present process passive | werden + Partizip II | Die Eltern werden eingeladen. — The parents are being invited. |
| Futur I, active | werden + infinitive | Die Eltern werden kommen. — The parents will come. |
More examples
Wird das Video heute aufgenommen?
Is the video being recorded today?
In a yes/no question, wird comes first and the past participle stays at the end.
Wann werden die Eltern eingeladen?
When are the parents being invited?
In a question with wann, the question word comes first, followed by werden.
Die Modelle werden gerade überprüft.
The models are being checked right now.
Gerade makes it clear that the action is happening now.