German C1: Participles as adjectives · Phrases

Participles can stand before a noun like adjectives, with the usual endings. The present participle (-end) is active and ongoing: der schlafende Hund (the dog that is sleeping). The past participle is usually passive or completed: das gestern gekaufte Brot (the bread bought yesterday). Formal texts pack whole clauses into them: die von der Regierung beschlossenen Maßnahmen.