Deutsch — Past participle as adjective
The past participle (Partizip II) can stand before a noun like an adjective. It then takes the normal adjective endings and describes something as completed or affected by an action: das gekochte Ei, die geöffnete Tür.
How it works
Form the Partizip II (kochen → gekocht, öffnen → geöffnet), place it in front of the noun, and add the same adjective ending you would use for any adjective. The ending follows the article and the noun's gender, number and case: der reparierte Wagen, ein reparierter Wagen, die reparierten Wagen. The meaning is passive and completed — geöffnet means 'having been opened'.
Examples
| Verb → Partizip II | Attributive phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| kochen → gekocht | das gekochte Ei | the boiled egg |
| öffnen → geöffnet | die geöffnete Tür | the opened door |
| reparieren → repariert | der reparierte Wagen | the repaired car |
| schreiben → geschrieben | ein geschriebener Brief | a written letter |
| verlieren → verloren | die verlorenen Schlüssel | the lost keys |
| braten → gebraten | gebratenes Fleisch | fried meat |
Good to know
Do not forget the adjective ending: not das gekocht Ei but das gekochte Ei. The Partizip II carries a passive, completed sense, unlike Partizip I (kochend = boiling, active and ongoing): das gekochte Ei is already boiled, das kochende Wasser is still boiling.