Werden conjugation: become, future and passive.

werden (become): present, past and Perfekt

Lowercase sie can mean “she” or “they”; capitalized Sie is formal “you” and takes the plural verb form. The English translation of a German past tense depends on context.

Recognize the Konjunktiv II

These forms express hypothetical situations or wishes. They are not interchangeable with the ordinary past tense.

Main verb: something becomes different

With an adjective or a noun, werden often describes a change: becoming tired, becoming a doctor, or a situation getting easier. The tables above show this main-verb use.

The Perfekt is formed with sein and geworden. Translate according to context: German geworden may correspond to English “become,” “got” or “grown.”

• Die Tage werden kürzer.

  The days are getting shorter.

• Meine Schwester wird Ärztin.

  My sister is becoming a doctor.

• Nach der Pause wurde es leichter.

  After the break, it got easier.

• Das Wasser ist kalt geworden.

  The water has become cold.

Auxiliary: werden + infinitive

A form of werden plus an infinitive can refer to the future. The infinitive usually closes the main clause. German can also use the present with a clear time expression; a future meaning does not force a werden construction.

This construction can also express a prediction or an assumption. The meaning comes from the context, not simply an automatic translation of werden as “will.”

• Ich werde dich morgen anrufen.

  I will call you tomorrow.

• Morgen rufe ich dich an.

  I will call you tomorrow.

  The time word makes a present-tense sentence future-oriented.

Auxiliary: werden + past participle

With a past participle, werden can focus on what happens to someone or something: the door is being opened, rather than someone opens the door.

In the Perfekt of this passive, the form is worden, without ge-. There is already a participle for the action: geöffnet worden. Compare this with main-verb geworden.

• Die Tür wird geöffnet.

  The door is being opened.

• Die Tür wurde geöffnet.

  The door was opened.

• Die Tür ist geöffnet worden.

  The door has been opened.

  Perfect passive: ist + geöffnet + worden.

• Die Tür ist offen.

  The door is open.

  This describes a state; it does not use werden.

Wurde and würde are different forms

Wurde is the ordinary Präteritum: something became different or was done. Würde is Konjunktiv II and often appears with an infinitive in hypothetical statements.

Learn the forms inside a complete sentence so the umlaut stays connected to the meaning. The short practice round below checks the difference between a past event and a hypothetical situation.

• Es wurde spät.

  It got late.

• Mit mehr Zeit würde ich länger bleiben.

  With more time, I would stay longer.

• Ich würde gern helfen.

  I would like to help.