ABSTRACT
The passive is used less often in German than English, but it is common in written German and particularly in formal texts, reports, newspaper articles, textbooks and so on. It is therefore important that you know how to use it correctly with a view to writing in German. It is also very important to realize that the passive voice, like the active voice, comes in different tenses. Using the passive always involves using a past participle, so this is as good a reason as any to keep up with revising the forms of irregular verbs frequently (see also Days 9 and 19).
