Participles as adjectives

B1

Das lachende Kind. Der gekochte Reis. Partizip I (lachend) and Partizip II (gekocht) stand like adjectives before the noun — more compact and stylistically mature.

  • Participles used as adjectives

Explanation

A participle can stand before a noun like a normal adjective. Then it gets an adjective ending: das lachende Kind der gekochte Reis.

There are two forms:

  1. Partizip I — infinitive + -d (lachenlachend): das lachende Kind. It describes something active that is happening right now.
  1. Partizip II — the perfect form (kochengekocht): der gekochte Reis. It describes something passive or already finished.

Both then get the normal adjective ending as after der or ein: die geöffnete Tür ein weinendes Baby mit dem gekochten Reis.

ParticipleFormationExample
Participle Ilachen + ddas lachende Kind
Participle Iweinen + dein weinendes Baby
Past participlekochen → gekochtder gekochte Reis
Past participleöffnen → geöffnetdie geöffnete Tür

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