Leideform
Die Leideform wird im Deutschen oft mit dem Hilfsverb 'werden' gebildet.
The passive voice is often formed with the auxiliary verb 'werden' in German.
grammatical form expressing the passive voice in a sentence
Im Satz 'Das Buch wird gelesen' steht die Leideform.
In the sentence 'The book is being read,' the passive voice is used.
The term 'Leideform' is less common in modern linguistics; 'Passiv' is the preferred term. It is derived from the idea that the subject 'suffers' the action (from 'leiden' = to suffer).
Pro Tip
Modern terminology
Use 'Passiv' instead of 'Leideform' in most contexts, as it is the standard term in modern German grammar.
Word Origin
From 'leiden' (to suffer) + 'Form' (form), referring to the grammatical structure where the subject undergoes the action.
Usage Notes
The term 'Leideform' is archaic and rarely used in contemporary German grammar. Modern terminology prefers 'Passiv' or 'Passivkonstruktion'. It may appear in historical or pedagogical contexts.