werden
to become, to get (change of state) · will (future tense auxiliary) · to be (passive auxiliary)
Werden is one of the most important German verbs. It means 'to become' or 'to get' when used as a main verb, and it is also used to form the future tense and the passive voice. Learners often meet it first as 'will' in future expressions like 'ich werde gehen' (I will go).
What werden means
- to become, to get (change of state) — As a main verb, describing a change or development, e.g., 'Es wird kalt' (It's getting cold).
- will (future tense auxiliary) — Used with an infinitive to form the future tense, e.g., 'Ich werde morgen kommen' (I will come tomorrow).
- to be (passive auxiliary) — Used with a past participle to form the passive voice, e.g., 'Das Haus wird gebaut' (The house is being built).
Heard in real German videos
Lines where werden was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Ich glaube, es wird noch regnen.I think it's going to rain.
- Wird es wieder gesund werden?Will it get better again?
- Dann wird mein Pokémon eben Bisasam.Then my Pokémon will just become Bulbasaur.
Example sentences
- Es wird kalt.It's getting cold.
- Ich werde morgen nach Berlin fahren.I will drive to Berlin tomorrow.
- Das Buch wird gelesen.The book is being read.
- Er ist Arzt geworden.He became a doctor.
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | werde / wirst / wird |
|---|---|
| Simple past | wurde |
| Perfect | ist geworden |
| Separable | no |
| Case it takes | nominative (predicate noun) or no object |
The perfect tense of 'werden' as a main verb uses 'sein': 'Er ist Lehrer geworden.' When 'werden' is used as an auxiliary for the passive voice, its past participle is 'worden' (without 'ge-'), e.g., 'Er ist geliebt worden.'
Common phrases
- was wird aus ...?what will become of ...?
- es wird Zeitit's about time
- mir wird schlechtI'm getting sick
- das wird schonit'll be all right
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse 'werden' with 'bekommen' because 'bekommen' sounds like 'to become' but actually means 'to get, receive'. Use 'werden' for 'to become'.
Don’t confuse it with
- bekommen — Bekommen means 'to receive' or 'to get' something, not 'to become'.
Questions learners ask
How do I form the future tense in German?
Use the present tense of 'werden' plus the infinitive of the main verb at the end of the clause: 'Ich werde gehen.'
What is the difference between 'wurde' and 'würde'?
'Wurde' is the simple past of 'werden' (e.g., 'Er wurde krank' = He became ill). 'Würde' is the subjunctive form used for polite requests or conditional sentences (e.g., 'Ich würde gehen' = I would go).
When do I use 'geworden' vs 'worden'?
Use 'geworden' as the past participle of 'werden' when it means 'became' (e.g., 'Er ist Lehrer geworden'). Use 'worden' as the auxiliary in passive perfect tenses (e.g., 'Das Haus ist gebaut worden').