Dynamic passive forms in the Konjunktiv 2
(Passive with ‘werden’ in the Konjunktiv 2 in German grammar)
Contents
What is the rule for the dynamic passive formation in the Konjunktiv 2?
Besides the indicative and the Konjunktiv 1 (German subjunctive), the dynamic passive can also be formed in the Konjunktiv 2 (subjunctive). For this purpose, the auxiliary verb ‘werden’ and the past participle of the respective main verb are required. The following overview shows the formation of the dynamic passive in the 2nd Konjunktiv:
Konjunktiv 2 forms of the dynamic passive
The table lists the different forms compared between the Konjunktiv 2 active voice and the dynamic passive. In English, the auxiliary ‘would’ is used to express roughly the same meaning, although the German tense makes a more detailed distinction:
- Note: Although the active voice forms of the Präsens and Futur 1 are the same, they differ in the dynamic passive voice.
| Tense | Active voice (Konjunktiv 2) | Dynamic passive (Konjunktiv 2) |
| Präsens (present) | Der Architekt würde den Plan zeichnen. (The architect would draw the plan.) | Der Plan würde gezeichnet. (The plan would be drawn.) |
| Perfekt (perfect) / Präteritum (preterite) / Plusquamperfekt (pluperfect) |
Der Architekt hätte den Plan gezeichnet. (The architect would have drawn the plan.) Info: This form remains the same in all three tenses. |
Der Plan wäre gezeichnet worden. (The plan would have been drawn.) Info: This form remains the same in all three tenses. |
| Futur 1 (future) | Der Architekt würde den Plan zeichnen. (The architect would draw the plan.) | Der Plan würde gezeichnet werden. (The plan would be drawn.) |
| Futur 2 (future perfect) | Der Architekt würde den Plan gezeichnet haben. (The architect would have drawn the plan.) | Der Plan würde gezeichnet worden sein. (The plan would have been drawn.) |
Further explanations related to the ‘Dynamic passive in the 2nd Konjunktiv’
The following explanations are referring to the topic ‘Forms of the dynamic passive voice in the Konjunktiv 2 in German grammar’ and could be helpful as well: