gelesen

Gelesen is the past participle of the German verb lesen, meaning "to read." It is used in the formation of perfect tenses (Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt) with the auxiliary haben, and it can also function as an adjective or a participial modifier.

The word is formed from the verb lesen with the standard participle prefix ge-: ge + lesen → gelesen. lesen is an irregular strong verb, so its past tense forms are different from the present tense (ich lese, du liest, er liest; ich las, ich habe gelesen). In everyday usage, examples include Ich habe das Buch gelesen and Wir haben den Artikel gelesen.

Gelesen can appear in various grammatical contexts. It is typically used with haben to express completed reading, as in Ich habe den Bericht gelesen. It can also appear in compound tenses or in subordinate clauses: Bevor der Kurs begann, hatte er das Material gelesen. Passive voice uses werden with the past participle: Es wird gelesen; Es ist gelesen worden.

As an adjective or attributive participle, gelesen operates with normal German adjective inflection. For example: das gelesene Buch (the read book), ein gelesenes Buch (a read book). In predicative position it can describe a state: Das Buch ist gelesen. The participle thus serves both verbial and adjectival purposes in German syntax.