01
werden
will
Serves as an auxiliary verb to form the future tense (Futur I).
example
Ich werde dich morgen anrufen.
I will call you tomorrow.
werden
to become / will
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
'Werden' as a main verb means a change and corresponds to the English 'to become.' Don't confuse it with 'bekommen' (to get / to receive). This mistake is very common.
EXAMPLE
Im Herbst werden die Blätter bunt.
In autumn, the leaves become colorful.
Forming the future
To form the future tense (Futur I), the conjugated form of 'werden' is combined with the infinitive of another verb. The conjugated 'werden' stands in position 2 in the main clause, and the infinitive stands at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Nächstes Jahr werde ich nach Spanien reisen.
Next year I will travel to Spain.
Forming the passive
The passive is formed with the conjugated form of 'werden' and the past participle (Partizip II). 'Werden' stands in position 2 in the main clause, and the past participle stands at the end.
EXAMPLE
Das Paket wird morgen geliefert.
The package will be delivered tomorrow.
'Werden' as a main verb
When 'werden' as a main verb describes a change, it is usually followed by an adjective or a noun in the nominative. It describes the new state or the new identity.
EXAMPLE
Es wird langsam dunkel.
It's slowly getting dark.
Forming the Konjunktiv II
The form 'würde' (Konjunktiv II of 'werden') is used together with an infinitive to form a polite, hypothetical, or unreal statement. 'Würde' stands in position 2, and the infinitive stands at the end.
EXAMPLE
Ich würde dir gerne helfen, aber ich habe keine Zeit.
I would like to help you, but I don't have time.
Compare with
werden vs sein
to be
'sein' and 'werden' can both describe a state or a quality. The important difference is: 'sein' describes how something is now. 'werden' describes a change into a new state. That is why they are often opposites: if someone is ill, that describes the current state; if someone becomes ill, that state is only beginning. Learners can easily confuse the words because both can be used with adjectives, for example 'müde sein' (to be tired) and 'müde werden' (to become tired). A simple guide is: use 'sein' for the state, and 'werden' for the change.
werden
Beim Warten auf den Bus wird sie langsam ungeduldig.
While waiting for the bus, she slowly becomes impatient.
sein
Nach der langen Reise ist Tara sehr müde.
After the long journey, Tara is very tired.
In real life
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