The agent in passive sentences
The passive voice emphasizes an action or its receiver rather than the doer. To mention who or what performed the action (the "agent"), English uses "by". German uses either von or durch, depending on the type of agent.
People and active agents with von
Use von when the action is performed by a person, group, or institution.
Because von is a dative preposition, the agent takes the dative case. It frequently merges with the dative masculine or neuter definite article dem to form vom.
| The poem is being translated by the teacher. | Das Gedicht wird vom Lehrer übersetzt. |
| The masterpiece was painted by the artist. | Das Meisterwerk wurde vom Künstler gemalt. |
| The exhibition is designed by an artist. | Die Ausstellung wird von einem Künstler entworfen. |
Means and forces with durch
Use durch for impersonal forces (like a storm or earthquake), instruments, or causes. It translates to "by" or "through".
Because durch is an accusative preposition, the agent takes the accusative case.
| The historical building was destroyed by the earthquake. | Das historische Gebäude wurde durch das Erdbeben zerstört. |
| The damage was caused by the storm. | Der Schaden wurde durch den Sturm verursacht. |
| The house was destroyed by the fire. | Das Haus wurde durch das Feuer zerstört. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io