C1
💡Not sure what Nominativ or Akkusativ means?Word Functions →Passive Alternatives
Explicação
Passive alternatives (Passiversatzformen)
German has several constructions that express passive meaning without the formal werden + Partizip II structure. These alternatives are important in formal written German and allow stylistic variety.
Main passive alternatives
| Construction | Formation | Example | Passive equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| sich lassen + Inf. | lassen (pres.) + infinitive | Das lässt sich leicht erklären. | Das kann leicht erklärt werden. (possibility) |
| sein + zu + Inf. | sein + zu + infinitive | Das ist zu beachten. | Das muss beachtet werden. (necessity) |
| man + active | man as impersonal subject | Man sagt, dass ... | Es wird gesagt, dass ... |
| -bar/-lich adjective | verb stem + -bar/-lich | lösbar, sichtbar, erklärlich | kann gelöst/gesehen/erklärt werden |
| Reflexive | sich + verb | Das Buch verkauft sich gut. | Das Buch wird gut verkauft. |
Meaning nuances
| Construction | Extra nuance |
|---|---|
| sich lassen + Inf. | implies possibility (can be done) |
| sein + zu + Inf. | implies necessity or obligation (must/should be done) |
| -bar/-lich | permanent quality of the object |
⚠️ At C1 level, learners are expected to use these constructions accurately and vary their expressive repertoire. sein + zu + Infinitive is especially frequent in academic texts and technical instructions.
Exemplos
Das Problem lässt sich leicht lösen.
The problem can be solved easily.
Der Antrag ist bis Freitag einzureichen.
The application must be submitted by Friday.
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