Verbs standing in front of nouns
In front of a noun, a participle works like an adjective: it keeps its verb meaning and takes the usual adjective ending. German has two: the Partizip II you know from the Perfekt (gekocht, geschrieben) and the Partizip I, which is new.
das schlafende Kind
the sleeping child
Partizip I: the child is sleeping
das gekochte Ei
the boiled egg
Partizip II: somebody boiled the egg
Building them
The Partizip I has no irregular forms: infinitive + -d, then the adjective ending. lachen gives lachend, anfangen gives anfangend. The ending that follows depends on case, gender and article, exactly as with klein. Without an ending, the phrase is as wrong as das klein Kind.
Infinitive + d + adjective ending
Listen for the -nd-: die wartenden Gäste are waiting, die eingeladenen Gäste were invited by somebody.
Der bellende Hund gehört den Nachbarn.
The barking dog belongs to the neighbours.
Ich habe den unterschriebenen Vertrag dabei.
I've got the signed contract with me.
Nimm lieber den frisch gemahlenen Kaffee.
Take the freshly ground coffee instead.
Der gerade angekommene Zug fährt weiter nach Basel.
The train that has just arrived continues to Basel.
ankommen takes sein, so the Partizip II is active
Checking with a relative clause
If you are unsure which participle fits, unfold it into a relative clause and ask: is the noun doing it, or was it done to the noun? The Partizip I keeps the tense of the main clause; the Partizip II becomes a passive.
Folded and unfolded
| Participle | Relative clause |
|---|---|
| das schlafende Kind | das Kind, das schläft |
| die jubelnden Zuschauer | die Zuschauer, die jubeln |
| das gekochte Ei | das Ei, das gekocht wurde |
| das viel gelesene Buch | das Buch, das viel gelesen wird |
| der angekommene Zug | der Zug, der angekommen ist |
Who does what?
der überraschende Besuch
the surprising visit
the visit surprises us
der überraschte Gast
the surprised guest
something surprised the guest
zu + Partizip I: still to be done
With zu in front of the Partizip I, the meaning is passive: something must or can still be done. Despite the -nd, nobody is acting yet. With a separable verb, zu goes inside: das auszufüllende Formular.
From sein + zu to the attribute
der zu zahlende Betrag
the amount payable
das auszufüllende Formular
the form to be filled in
Where you will meet them
Bratwurst mit gebratenen Kartoffeln
Bratwurst with fried potatoes
Zusteigende Fahrgäste bitte hinten einsteigen.
Passengers boarding please use the rear doors.
Wir verkaufen nur regional produzierte Waren.
We only sell regionally produced goods.
Beachten Sie die beigefügten Unterlagen.
Please note the attached documents.
Das ist ein gut geschriebenes Buch.
That's a well-written book.
