Using Participles as Adjectives in German

German participles can be used as adjectives to describe nouns, communicating either an ongoing action (present participle) or a completed action (past participle). These participle adjectives are often seen in conversation and writing. When functioning as an adjective, participles also get adjective endings, but here, we focus on their role and meaning.

Present Participle as Adjective

The present participle (Partizip I) is formed by adding -d to the infinitive of the verb and represents an ongoing action. When used as an adjective, it describes someone or something currently performing an action.

Examples:

• die fahrende Frau (the woman who is driving)
• ein fliegender Vogel (a bird that is flying)
• der singende Junge (the boy who is singing)
• die sprechenden Kinder (the children who are speaking)
• ein lesendes Mädchen (a girl who is reading)

Usage in sentences:

• Das ist ein laufender Hund.
• Ich sehe ein spielendes Kind im Park.
• Der Lehrer spricht mit den sprechenden Schülern.
• Sie hört eine singende Stimme.

Past Participle as Adjective

The past participle (Partizip II) describes a person or thing that has experienced a completed action. This is used to express that something "has been" done to the noun.

Examples:

• das gelesene Buch (the book that has been read)
• die gegessene Pizza (the pizza that was eaten)
• die geschriebene Nachricht (the message that was written)
• das gehörte Lied (the song that was heard)
• das getroffene Ziel (the goal that was met)
• der angezogene Mann (the man who got dressed)
• die angekommene Lieferung (the delivery that arrived)

Usage in sentences:

• Die gebaute Brücke ist sehr stabil.
• Sie trägt ein selbstgeschriebenes Gedicht vor.
• Das gekaufte Kleid gefällt mir.
• Der besuchte Ort war wunderschön.
• Das getroffene Kind wurde schnell verarztet.

Summary in Context

Participles as adjectives create precise descriptions. The present participle (-end) focuses on what is happening, while the past participle shows what has happened. In daily life, both forms are used to make sentences richer and more descriptive.

Cultural fact: German literature often uses participles as adjectives, especially in news articles or official reports, adding detail and clarity.