Participle I as adjective (der schreibende Mann)

Partizip 1 als Adjektiv (der schreibende Mann)

Das Partizip 1 wird als Adjektiv verwendet, um eine Handlung oder einen Zustand zu beschreiben, z. B. 'singend' oder 'lachend'.

(The present participle (Partizip 1) is used as an adjective to describe an action or a state, e.g. “singend” or “lachend”.)

Teacher explanation

What Partizip I does (in real life)

Partizip I is the German “-ing” form used like an adjective to describe someone/something by an ongoing activity (often happening at the same time).

der telefonierende Bewerber = the applicant who is (currently) on the phone
die lesende Frau = the woman who is reading

Think of it as a compact alternative to a relative clause with der/die/das … der gerade ….

How to build it: verb → -end

Most verbs: Infinitiv + -d → -end
schreiben → schreibend, lesen → lesend, sprechen → sprechend
With sein: sein → seiend (rare at B1; you will hardly need it)

Key point: it behaves like an adjective (so it must be declined)

In front of a noun, Partizip I gets adjective endings. This is the part learners often miss:

die recherchierende Kollegin (not: ~~die recherchierend Kollegin~~)
den telefonierenden Bewerber (Akkusativ masculine)

Structure	Meaning	Example
Partizip I + Nomen	compact description	die laut sprechende Gruppe
Relativsatz	same meaning, longer	die Gruppe, die laut spricht

Declension shortcut: choose the ending from the article

You do not invent endings. You use normal adjective declension logic:

Find the case (Nominativ/Akkusativ/Dativ/Genitiv).
Look at the article (der/die/das; ein/eine; etc.).
Add the usual adjective ending to the participle.

Mini-patterns you will use a lot:

der + …e: der wartende Kunde
die + …e: die wartende Kundin
das + …e: das wartende Team
den (Akk. m.) + …en: Ich sehe den wartenden Kunden.
dem (Dat. m./n.) + …en: Ich helfe dem wartenden Kunden.
plural die + …en: die wartenden Kunden

Where to place extra information (adverbs, objects, “gerade”)

Partizip I can keep its “verb power” and take complements.

ein gerade E-Mails schreibender Manager
die sich über das Unternehmen informierende Person

Tip: If it becomes too long or hard to read, switch to a relative clause.

Better than an overloaded noun phrase:
die Person, die sich vor dem Gespräch über das Unternehmen informiert

Reflexive verbs: keep “sich” inside the participle phrase

With reflexive verbs, sich stays with the participle phrase (not separated).

die sich informierende Person
Akkusativ example: Ich spreche mit der sich informierenden Person.

Self-check: 4 questions before you commit to an answer

Do I mean an ongoing action? (≈ “-ing”, “currently”)
If not, Partizip II or a normal adjective may fit better.
Is it before a noun?
If yes: it must be declined.
What is the case?
Especially after prepositions: mit (+Dativ), für (+Akkusativ), etc.
Did I add the correct ending?
Quick spot check: der/die/das → -e, den/dem/die (plural) → -en (very often).

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

Missing ending: ~~die telefonierend Person~~ → die telefonierende Person
Wrong case ending: ~~Ich sehe den telefonierende Bewerber.~~ → … den telefonierenden Bewerber.
Using it when it gets too long:
Use a relative clause when the participle phrase becomes heavy.

Use Partizip 1 with -end: schreiben → schreibend.
It is often used to describe activities that happen at the same time.

Verwendung (Usage)	Partizip 1 (Present participle (Partizip 1))	Beispiel (Example)
Handlung (Action)	schreibend (writing)	der schreibende Manager (the manager who is writing)
Handlung (Action)	sprechend	die sprechende Gruppe (the group that is speaking)
Zustand (State)	lachend (laughing)	der lachende Mann (the laughing man)
Tätigkeit (Activity)	lesend (reading)	die lesende Frau (the woman who is reading)
Tätigkeit (Activity)	sich informierend	die sich informierende Person (the person who is getting information)

Exceptions!

As an adjective, Partizip 1 comes before the noun and is declined.
Partizip 1 is also adapted to the grammatical case.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Ich suche den Bewerber, den ______ Bewerber bitte zu mir.

2. Die im Lebenslauf genannte Berufserfahrung passt gut zu der ______ Stelle.

3. Bitte geben Sie mir die Unterlagen der ______ Person am Empfang.

4. Wir laden die Bewerberinnen mit dem ______ Anschreiben zum Gespräch ein.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each word group as a noun phrase with a present participle (-ing) before the noun; adjust the ending to gender, number and case (for example: “ein Mann, der lacht” → “ein lachender Mann”).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints

ein Manager, der gerade E-Mails schreibt

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
ein gerade E-Mails schreibender Manager
(a manager currently writing emails)
die Gruppe, die laut im Besprechungsraum spricht

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
die laut im Besprechungsraum sprechende Gruppe
(the group speaking loudly in the meeting room)
der Mann, der an der Bushaltestelle lacht

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
der an der Bushaltestelle lachende Mann
(the man laughing at the bus stop)
eine Frau, die im Zug Zeitung liest

⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
eine im Zug Zeitung lesende Frau
(a woman reading a newspaper on the train)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct form with participle 1 as an adjective.