Breakdown of Das Meisterwerk wird durch das Erdbeben zerstört.
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
durch
through
werden
to be (passive auxiliary + past participle)
das Meisterwerk
the masterpiece
Questions & Answers about Das Meisterwerk wird durch das Erdbeben zerstört.
Why does this sentence use durch instead of von?
In German passive sentences, we use von (plus Dative) for an active agent, usually a person or animal that intentionally does the action. We use durch (plus Accusative) for a means, instrument, or natural cause. Since an earthquake is a mindless natural force, durch is the correct choice here.
What case is das Erdbeben in this sentence?
It is in the accusative case because the preposition durch always requires the accusative. Since Erdbeben is a neuter noun, its accusative article (das) looks exactly the same as its nominative article.
Why is the verb wird used instead of ist for the passive voice here?
German strictly distinguishes between an action happening right now and a finished state. Because this sentence uses a form of werden (wird), it describes the action as it is happening: the earthquake is actively destroying the masterpiece. If it were Das Meisterwerk ist zerstört, it would mean the destruction is already finished and we are just looking at the ruins.
Why does the past participle zerstört lack the usual ge- prefix?