B2 · Grammar · Passiversatzformen
German Passive Alternatives: man, sich lassen, sein + zu, -bar
The ruleGerman has four everyday substitutes for the passive, and good written German rotates between them rather than repeating werden.
The werden passive is correct but heavy, and a text built entirely from it reads badly in German as in English. These four constructions say the same thing and each carries a slightly different shade: knowing which to reach for is a large part of what separates B2 writing from B1.
man
The simplest option, and the one German uses far more than English uses one. It keeps the sentence active and drops the agent.
- In Österreich spricht man Deutsch. German is spoken in Austria. English almost has to go passive here; German does not.
- Man hat mir gesagt, dass … I was told that …
- Wie schreibt man das? How is that written?
man declines: accusative einen, dative einem, possessive sein. Das macht einen müde: that makes one tired.
sich lassen + infinitive
Means can be done. It replaces a passive with a modal, and it is extremely common in instructions and product descriptions.
| Passive with modal | sich lassen | English |
|---|---|---|
| Das kann repariert werden. | Das lässt sich reparieren. | That can be repaired. |
| Das kann nicht gemacht werden. | Das lässt sich nicht machen. | That can't be done. |
| Die Tür kann leicht geöffnet werden. | Die Tür lässt sich leicht öffnen. | The door opens easily. |
sein + zu + infinitive
Means either can be or must be, and the difference is context. It is noticeably formal and belongs to notices, regulations and academic prose.
- Das Formular ist bis Freitag abzugeben. The form must be submitted by Friday. Obligation: the usual reading in official German.
- Der Text ist leicht zu verstehen. The text is easy to understand. Possibility: signalled by leicht.
- Diese Frage ist nicht zu beantworten. This question cannot be answered.
Adjectives in -bar and -lich
A participle turned into an adjective meaning -able. Compact, and the register is neutral.
| Verb | Adjective | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| machen | machbar | kann gemacht werden |
| essen | essbar | kann gegessen werden |
| lesen | lesbar / leserlich | kann gelesen werden |
| verstehen | verständlich | kann verstanden werden |
| erklären | erklärbar | kann erklärt werden |
Choosing between them
| Construction | Register | Shade |
|---|---|---|
| man | Neutral, spoken and written | Someone does it: agent unimportant |
| sich lassen | Neutral | It is possible |
| sein + zu | Formal, written | It must be, or it can be |
| -bar | Neutral | A property of the thing |
| werden-Passiv | All registers | The process itself, no agent |
Where it goes wrong
Das kann nicht gemacht werden können.
Das lässt sich nicht machen.
Stacking a modal onto a modal passive collapses. When the meaning is can be done, sich lassen says it in three words and is what a native writer reaches for.
Test yourself
2 questions on this
-
1 Verbform: Subjekt 'man' erfordert 3. Person Singular, Präsens 'isst' Sprachbausteine
Man wird leichter krank, wenn man immer nur schlechte Dinge oder sich wenig bewegt.
Show answer
Correct answer: isst
Nach 'man' steht die 3. Person Singular, also 'isst'.
Read the full text: Gesundheit
-
2 Verbform im Präsens, Subjekt 'man' Sprachbausteine
Weiß entsteht, wenn man Licht von allen Farben zusammen .
Show answer
Correct answer: mischt
Das Subjekt 'man' erfordert die dritte Person Singular: 'mischt'. Die anderen Formen sind nicht passend.
Read the full text: Farbe
Common questions
What does 'das lässt sich machen' mean?
'That can be done.' sich lassen plus an infinitive is a standard substitute for a passive with können, and it is shorter and more idiomatic than 'das kann gemacht werden'.
Does 'sein + zu' mean must or can?
Both, depending on context. In official German it usually signals obligation: 'Die Rechnung ist sofort zu bezahlen' means it must be paid. With an adverb like leicht or schwer it reads as possibility: 'Das ist leicht zu erklären'.
Is 'man' the same as English 'one'?
It fills the same slot but is far more common. English 'one' sounds stiff and is usually replaced by 'you' or a passive; German man is entirely neutral and appears in every register, from a sign to a dissertation.
Next