Partizipien

Partizipien are non-finite verb forms that German uses to express aspect, modify nouns, or build compound tenses. They come in two main kinds: Partizip I, the present participle, and Partizip II, the past participle. As versatile elements, they can function adjectivally, adverbially, or be nominalized as nouns themselves, and they appear in both simple and complex verbal constructions.

Partizip I is formed from the infinitive stem plus the suffix -end, for example arbeiten → arbeitend, lesen → lesend, laufen → laufend. It mostly appears as an attributive or predicative modifier: der laufende Mann; Er singt singend. In everyday prose it is less frequent than standard verb forms, but it is common in headlines and descriptive phrases.

Partizip II marks completed actions and is built in several ways. For weak and strong verbs it typically ends with ge- and a final -t or -en: arbeiten → gearbeitet, gehen → gegangen, sehen → gesehen; irregulars include finden → gefunden, sein → gewesen. For verbs with separable prefixes the prefix is kept: aufstehen → aufgestanden, mitnehmen → mitgenommen. It is used in perfect tenses with haben or sein (Ich habe gelesen; Er ist gegangen), in passive constructions (Das Fenster wird geöffnet), and adjectivally (der geschriebene Brief). It can also be nominalized: das Gelernte, das Gelesene.

Together, Partizipien provide concise means to convey time, aspect, and the character of nouns in German, and they contrast with the infinitive and finite forms by remaining non-finite and flexible in position, declension, and usage.