Extended participle attributes
das erweiterte Partizipialattribut
The extended Partizipialattribut turns the information of a relative clause into a long adjective phrase placed before the noun, using Partizip I or Partizip II.
Instead of a Relativsatz (relative clause), you pack all the extra information into a Partizip I or Partizip II and place it before the noun as one giant adjective phrase.
Right now: turning a clause into an adjective
You already know one-word participle adjectives (das geplante Projekt). Now we squeeze a whole clause in front of that adjective.
ShortcutIn academic German and in newspapers, a long Relativsatz that would follow the noun moves in front of it and becomes one enormous adjective.
Das Buch, das von dem Professor geschrieben wurde...
The book that was written by the professor... (Relativsatz)
Das von dem Professor geschriebene Buch...
The book written by the professor... (Partizipialattribut)
The meaning is exactly the same, but the second version is much denser (compact) and more formal.
English does half of this already
English puts short participles in front of the noun too: “the rapidly rising prices”, “a much-discussed reform”. The difference is what happens when the phrase gets long. English moves it behind the noun (“the car repaired yesterday”, “the book written by the professor”); German keeps everything in front, however long it gets.
| German Relativsatz (long) | German Partizipialattribut (compact) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Die Preise, die schnell steigen | die schnell steigenden Preise | the rapidly rising prices |
| Das Auto, das gestern repariert wurde | das gestern reparierte Auto | the car repaired yesterday |
| Die Aufgabe, die gelöst werden muss | die zu lösende Aufgabe | the task to be solved |
Look at how the English column keeps changing shape: the participle sits before the noun in the first row and after it in the other two. German always builds it the same way (middle column): everything in front of the noun.
Der im Garten spielende Hund...
The dog playing in the garden...
Table: which participle do you choose?
The participle you pick depends on whether the action is active or passive:
| Situation | Structure to use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active (it does it itself) | Partizip I (verb + d + ending) | das weinende Kind (the crying child) |
| Passive / completed (it was done to it) | Partizip II (ge- + stem + -t/-en + ending) | das gekaufte Auto (the purchased car) |
| Obligation (it has to be done) | zu + Partizip I | das zu lösende Problem (the problem to be solved) |
They all take adjective endings. Depending on the article and the gender of the noun, -e, -en, -er and so on are added.
Der auf dem Tisch liegende Stift...
The pen lying on the table... (active → Partizip I)
Das von mir gelesene Buch...
The book read by me... (passive → Partizip II)
The word-order trap
Das im Jahr 2020 erbaute Haus...
The house built in 2020...
Putting the participle first
In an extended participle phrase the inflected participle always sits right next to the noun (on its left). All the other information (time, place, by whom) comes before it.
Das erbaute im Jahr 2020 Haus...
Wrong. The participle is not next to the noun.
Das im Jahr 2020 erbaute Haus...
Right. Article → extra information → participle → noun.
Remember this formula: Article + everything else + participle + noun.
What you just learned
Der Mann, der in Berlin wohnt... -> Der in Berlin ___ Mann...
Show the answer
wohnende. When Partizip I (wohnend) stands before a noun as an attribute, it takes an adjective ending that matches the noun.
The word order “Das geschriebene von Goethe Buch” is correct.
Show the answer
False. The participle (geschriebene) has to stand directly in front of the noun (Buch). The correct version: "Das von Goethe geschriebene Buch".
Das Problem, das gelöst werden muss. -> Das ___ Problem.
Show the answer
zu lösende — To express “has to be done / must be done” you use zu + Partizip I.
The part nobody tells you: how to breathe while reading
This structure is the reason for those giant sentences you cannot understand in B2/C1 texts (TestDaF, for example). Ten words can sit between the article and the noun. The tactic: skip the words after the article and look at the noun first.
Die von der aktuellen Regierung in den letzten Jahren heftig kritisierte Reform...
Article (Die) → noun (Reform) → read the middle only after you have found the reform.
In your own writing (Schreiben), don’t make this structure too long. Germans like it in print, but a Partizipialattribut that runs for two lines makes a sentence unreadable. Keep it short and sharp.
Build the sentence yourself
Tap the words and put them in order. This is the hardest part of German — and there are no options to pick from, you build it.
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tap the words
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tap the words
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tap the words
Know this before the test
The core of the topic in three lines, then the mistakes people make most often.
- Active → Partizip I (ends in -d)
If something does the action itself (a crying child, rising prices), you use Partizip I.
die steigenden Preise
- Passive → Partizip II (ge…t/en)
If something was done by someone else (a building that was built, a book that was written), you use Partizip II.
das gebaute Haus
- Order: article + everything else + participle + noun
The participle must always stick to the noun (directly on its left).
das gestern in Berlin gekaufte Auto
die schnell gestiegenen Preise → meaning “still rising”
die schnell steigenden Preise
Both are correct German with different meanings: gestiegen = have risen (finished), steigend = rising (ongoing). If the prices are still rising, use Partizip I.
das von mir Buch gelesene
das von mir gelesene Buch
The adjective does not come after the noun. The participle (gelesene) has to stand directly in front of the noun (Buch).
Test yourself
Tap an answer — we will look at why together.
Das ist ein Projekt, das von der Firma geplant wird. -> Das ist ein von der Firma Projekt.
This is a project planned by the company.
Die Kinder, die auf der Straße spielen... -> Die auf der Straße Kinder...
The children playing in the street...
Das Problem, das gelöst werden muss. -> Das Problem.
The problem that has to be solved.
Which one is in the correct order?
Die Frau, die laut lacht... -> Die laut Frau...
The woman laughing loudly...
Build the phrase: The pizza ordered yesterday...
Tap the pieces to build the sentence
Correct order
Practice done — –
To finish the topic, take the full test: score 60% and it is marked as done on your level path.
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Partizipialattribut worksheet
This whole page — tables, traps, examples — as one PDF. Download it, print it, run through it before the exam.
Related topics
Participle adjectives
kochend · gekocht
In German a verb can be used like an adjective to describe a noun: Partizip I for an action still going on (kochend), Partizip II for a finished one (gekocht).
Relativsätze
der · den · dem · dessen
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) are subordinate clauses that describe a noun and start with a relative pronoun: der, den, dem, dessen.
Passive
werden + Partizip II
The German passive is the structure where the subject undergoes the action instead of doing it: werden + Partizip II.