Passive Voice - Alternative Constructions

German offers various other constructions to the passive voice which retain (close to) the same effect. 

These constructions are in no particular order, but the first five are quite frequent.

man

The indefinite pronoun man corresponds to the English indefinite pronoun 'one', but does not possess a formal register like 'one' does: man is commonly used in spoken and written German. It can be used with any verb, which is helpful for verbs, such as reflexive verbs, that do not have a “true” passive construction.

  Man muss an der Kasse bezahlen.
  You have to pay at the till.

  Man hat mir das gesagt.
  That's what I was told.

sich lassen + [infinitive]

This construction is very similar to using können in the passive voice.

  Das lässt sich ändern.
  That can be changed.

  Diese Entwicklung lässt sich erklären.
  This development can be explained.

  Das kunterbunte Stoffgemisch lässt sich in sinnvolle Produkte verwandeln. (From: Der Geschenkte Planet)
  This colourful mixture of materials can be converted into meaningful products.

Making certain verbs reflexive

Many verbs that denote activities can be made reflexive to give a passive effect. This can also (but not always) imply können.

  Das neue Produkt verkauft sich sehr gut.
  The new product sold very well.

  Aktivitäten finden sich auf unserer Website.
  Activities can be found on our website.

sein + adjectives ending in -bar, -lich, -fähig

Adjectives with these suffixes can be constructed with sein to denote a passive sense with können. This corresponds to the similar English construction with 'to be' + adjectives ending in -able, -ible.

  Der Lärm ist kaum erträglich.
  (Like: Der Lärm kann kaum ertragen werden.)
  The noise is barely tolerable.

  Pferde sind nicht essbar.
  (Like: Pferde können nicht gegessen werden.)
  Horses cannot be eaten.

sein + zu + [infinitive]

This construction is very similar to the English 'be + to + [past participle]'. It often implies können, müssen, or sollen, which can be deduced from the context.

  Diese Riesen sind nicht zu unterschätzen!
  (Like: Diese Riesen müssen nicht unterschätzt werden.)
  These giants are not to be underestimated!

  Die grausame Tat ist nicht zu begreifen.
  (Like: Die grausame Tat kann nicht begriffen werden.)
  This gruesome act cannot be comprehended.

bleiben + zu + [infinitive]

This construction implies a sense of müssen. It is uncommon. 

  Es bleibt zu bezweifeln, ob ...
  (Like: Es muss bezweifelt werden, ob ...)
  It is doubtful whether ...
  (More literally: It must be doubted, whether ...)

  Das Ergebnis bleibt abzuwarten.
  (Like: Das Ergebnis abgewartet werden.)
  We have to await the result.
  (More literally: The result must be waited on.)

stehen + zu + [infinitive]

This construction implies a sense of müssen. It is only used with a limited number of verbs, usually erwarten and befürchten.

  Es steht zu erwarten, dass ...
  (Like: Es wird erwartet, dass ...)
  It is expected that ...

  Es steht zu vermuten, dass...
  (Like: Es muss vermutet werden, dass ... )
  It is to be assumed that ...

es gibt + zu + [infinitive]

This construction implies a sense of müssen or können, which one depends on the context.

  Es gibt hier nichts zu tun.
  (Like: Es muss/kann hier nichts getan werden.)
  There is nothing to be done here. 

  Nach einer Reise gibt es vieles zu erzählen.
  (Like: Nach einer Reise kann vieles erzählt werden.)
  A lot can be told after a trip.

gehen + zu + [infinitive]

This construction is typically only heard in colloquial speech. It implies a sense of können. 

  Das Bild geht nicht zu befestigen.
  (Like: Das Bild kann nicht befestigt werden.)
  The picture cannot be mounted.

Dativpassiv: bekommen, kriegen, haben + [past participle]

The verbs bekommen, kriegen (and rarely haben) can replace werden as the auxiliary verb when the passive voice is usually formed with verbs which indicate an action and where the dative object 'receives' something. This type of verb is especially common with verbs that govern both an accusative and dative object.

With these verbs, the dative object in the active sentence, instead of the accusative object, becomes the subject in the passive sentence. For example:

  Seine Mutter schenkte ihm Bücher.
  His mother gave him books (as a present).

This sentence in the 'true' passive becomes: 

  Ihm wurden Bücher geschenkt.
  He was given books.

And with bekommen:

  Er bekam/kriegte Bücher geschenkt.
  He got books.

This construction with bekommen is seen in spoken and written language, while kriegen is usually confined to colloquial speech.

haben is also a possibility, but it is rare:

  Das Pferd hat die Fesseln bandagiert.
  The horse had its ankles bandaged.

gehören + [past participle]

This construction has a force of necessity similar to müssen and is found especially in colloquial South German speech.

  Dem gehört das deutlich gesagt.
  He ought to be told that clearly.

  Der gehört das Handwerk gelegt. (a common expression)
  Her scheme needs to be stopped. (idiomatic translation)

bringen + [past participle]

This construction indicates the action is in the direction of the speaker. For example:

  Er wurde von ihnen herangetragen.
  He was brought forward by them.

Becomes:

  Sie brachten ihn getragen.
  He was brought forward by them.

It is occasionally used in colloquial speech.

[verb] + [verbal noun]

Some verbs can be matched with a verbal noun to create a passive effect. A verbal noun is a noun that has been formed from a verb, such as Auswertung from auswerten.

In this context, the meaning is mostly derived from the verbal noun with the actual verb playing a secondary role (or having no meaning at all).

This construction is common in non-literary written German.

  Eine weitere Vereinfachung und Vereinheitlichung könnten diese Fragen erfahren. 
  (Like: Diese Fragen könnten weiter vereinfacht und vereinheitlicht werden.)
  These issues could be simplified and harmonised further. 

  Kriegsopfer dürfen nicht in Vergessenheit geraten. 
  (Like: Kriegsopfer dürfen nicht vergessen werden.) 
  Victims of war must not be forgotten. 

This kind of verb is known as a Funktionsverben.

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