State Passive (sein)

Level 3

The Zustandspassiv (State Passive) focuses on the result of an action. It answers the question: 'What condition is it in now?'

How It Works

The Zustandspassiv is used to describe a static condition or result. It is most common in the present tense (ist) and preterite (war).

1. Formation:
Subject + conjugated form of sein + Partizip II.
Example: Das Fenster ist geöffnet. (The window is open/in an opened state).

2. Zustandspassiv vs. Vorgangspassiv:

  • Vorgangspassiv: Die Tür wird geschlossen. (The door is being closed — an action is happening).
  • Zustandspassiv: Die Tür ist geschlossen. (The door is closed — the action is over, this is the result).

3. Usage Requirements:
This form works with transitive verbs that result in a lasting change. This state can be physical (Das Auto ist repariert) or abstract (Das Problem ist gelöst). Because the focus is entirely on the result, the agent (the person who performed the action) is almost always omitted. Including von or durch usually sounds unnatural in this construction.

4. Tenses:
While most common in the Present, it can exist in the Preterite (Das Haus war zerstört) to describe a past state. Perfect forms (ist... gewesen) exist but are rare and formal.

Examples (5)

  1. Die Tür ist geschlossen.

    The door is closed.

    Word by Word: The door is closed.

    This describes the current state of the door, not the act of closing it.

  2. Keine Sorge, die Rechnung ist schon bezahlt.

    Don't worry, the bill is already paid.

    Word by Word: No worry, the bill is already paid.

    The action of paying is finished; the 'paid' status is the result.

  3. Das Auto war komplett repariert.

    The car was completely repaired.

    Word by Word: The car was completely repaired.

    Using 'war' (preterite) describes a state that existed in the past.

  4. Die Verträge sind bereits unterschrieben.

    The contracts are already signed.

    Word by Word: The contracts are already signed.

    Focuses on the fact that the signatures are now on the paper.

  5. Das Geschäft ist am Sonntag geöffnet.

    The shop is open on Sunday.

    Word by Word: The shop is on Sunday opened.

    Describes the state of the shop being open for business.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing the State Passive with the Process Passive.

    Das Fenster wird geöffnet (when you mean it is already open).
    Das Fenster ist geöffnet.

    Use werden if the window is currently moving; use sein if it is already in that position.

  • Adding 'worden' to the State Passive in the Perfect tense.

    Die Tür ist geschlossen worden (as a state).
    Die Tür ist geschlossen gewesen.

    'Worden' is only for the Vorgangspassiv. The State Passive uses 'gewesen' in the Perfect, though this is rare in daily speech.

  • Confusing the State Passive with the Perfect tense of intransitive verbs.

    Er ist gekommen (thinking this is a passive state).
    Das Problem ist gelöst.

    The Zustandspassiv is formed from transitive verbs (verbs that take an object). 'Er ist gekommen' is simply the Perfekt of an intransitive verb.

How It Connects

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State Passive (sein)Level 3

Learn This First

To understand the State Passive (Zustandspassiv), you must be comfortable conjugating the verb 'sein' and know how to form past participles for both weak and strong verbs, as the construction consists of 'sein' plus a past participle.

Words in This Pattern

sein