Present participles describe an action in progress. They are formed by adding -d to the infinitive.

They are often used as attributive adjectives, i.e. they come before the noun they describe. In these cases, you also have to add the correct adjective ending e.g.

fließen -> fließend -> Im Bad gibt es kein fließendes Wasser. (There is no running water in the bathroom.)

blühen -> blühend -> Sie saß unter dem blühenden Apfelbaum. (She sat under the blooming apple tree.)

steigen -> steigend -> Der steigende Meeresspiegel bedroht viele Küstenstädte. (The rising sea levels threaten many coastal towns.)

Click here to find out more about adjective endings.

Past participles describe a completed action.

They can be used as predicate adjectives without an ending, e.g. Das Haus ist renoviert. (The house is renovated.)

or as attributive adjectives with an adjective ending, e.g. Ich wohne lieber in einem renovierten Hause. (I prefer living in a renovated house.)

a further example:

streichen -> past participle: gestrichen:

         Der Zaun ist frisch gestrichen. (The fence is freshly painted.)

         Sie freut sich über den frisch gestrichenen Zaun. (She is happy about the freshly painted fence.)

Click here to find out about the formation of past participles.