The verbs werden and sein in German

In German, werden and sein are two of the most important verbs. In today's article, we will explore these two verbs together.

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A. The verb werden

1. Werden used as a main verb

a. Combined with a noun

Ich werde später Polizist.

(I will become a police officer later.)

Das Wetter wird morgen besser.

(The weather will be better tomorrow.)

→ werden expresses a development into someone/something

b. Combined with an adjective

Autos werden immer schneller.

(Cars are always getting faster.)

Dein Deutsch wird immer besser.

(Your German will keep getting better.)

→ werden expresses a development or an assumption, a statement about a change of state.

2. Werden used as an auxiliary verb

a. In the simple future tense (Futur 1) werden + Infinitiv:

Ich werde morgen zu dir kommen.

(I will come to you tomorrow.)

b. In the passive voice (Vorgangspassiv): werden + Partizip II:

Der Kuchen wird gebacken.

(The cake will be baked.)

c. In the subjunctive mood type 2 (Konjunktiv 2) würden + Infinitiv:

Er würde gern Millionär sein.

(He would like to become a millionaire.)

→ Werden is used only to complete the structure and carries no meaning of its own.

3. Conjugation of the verb werden

!!!! When to use geworden and worden

- Active sentences in the present perfect use geworden:

Ich bin gestern 30 geworden.

(I turned 30 yesterday.)

- Passive sentences in the present perfect use worden:

Der Kuchen ist gestern gebacken worden.

(The cake was baked yesterday.)

B. The verb sein

1. Sein used as a main verb

a. Combined with a noun

Ich bin Lehrer. (I am a teacher.)

Sie ist Martins Mutter. (She is Martin's mother.)

→ used to identify who someone is, what something is, or what a particular subject is.

b. Combined with an adjective

Das neue Haus meiner Tante ist sehr schön.

(My aunt's new house is very beautiful.)

→ used to describe the characteristics or qualities of a person, thing, or subject.

c. Combined with a prepositional phrase

Ich bin bei meiner Freundin Maria.(I am at my friend Maria's place.)

→ to indicate location

1. sein used as an auxiliary verb

a. In the present perfect tense (Perfekt): sein + Partizip II

Ich bin nach Nürnberg gefahren.

(I traveled to Nürnberg.)

b. In the past perfect tense (Plusquamperfekt): sein (Präteritum) + Partizip II

Der Bus war bereits angekommen, als Franz kam.

(The bus had already arrived when Franz came.)

c. Auxiliary verb for the stative passive (Zustandspassiv): sein + Partizip II

Die Party ist schon vorbereitet.

(The party has already been prepared.)

→ Sein is used only to complete the structure and carries no meaning of its own.

3. Sein combined with für and gegen

Manuel ist für Petra als Klassensprecherin.

(Manuel agrees with Petra becoming class representative.)

→ sein + für: expresses a positive opinion about someone or something

Ich bin gegen die Kernenergie.

(I am against nuclear energy.)

→ sein + gegen: expresses a negative opinion about someone or something

4. Conjugation of the verb sein