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Passiva
/ˈpasɪva/
passive voice
Im Deutschen werden Passiva oft mit dem Verb 'werden' gebildet.
In German, the passive voice is often formed with the verb 'werden'.
formal
The form of a verb in which the subject receives the action, as opposed to performing it.
Der Brief wurde von ihr geschrieben.
The letter was written by her.
Im Passiv steht das Objekt im Vordergrund.
In the passive voice, the object is emphasized.
The Passiva in German includes both the 'Vorgangspassiv' (action passive) and 'Zustandspassiv' (state passive).
Finance
formal
Liabilities in accounting, the opposite of assets.
Die Passiva der Bilanz umfassen Schulden und Eigenkapital.
The liabilities on the balance sheet include debts and equity.
Used in financial statements to denote what a company owes.
Collocations
Passiv bildento form the passive voiceim Passiv stehento be in the passive voice
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Passiv vs. Aktiv
Remember that the Passiv emphasizes the action's recipient (object), while the Aktiv emphasizes the doer (subject).
Gold Rule
Passivbildung im Deutschen
The passive voice in German is formed with 'werden' (for actions) or 'sein' (for states) + past participle. Example: 'Das Haus wird gebaut' (The house is being built).
Word Origin
From Latin *passivus* (passive), from *patior* (to suffer, endure), via French *passif*.
Usage Notes
In German, the term 'Passiva' is plural and refers to liabilities in accounting. For the grammatical term, 'Passiv' (neuter) is more commonly used in modern contexts.
Word Breakdown
Passiv
passive
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