German Grammar
Infinitive Clauses
Infinitive clauses (Infinitivsätze) are dependent clauses constructed with zu + infinitive. They function as subordinate clauses but have no subject of their own, instead referring to the subject or object of the main clause. These clauses express purpose, intention, or replace dass-clauses when the subjects match.
Examples:
- • Ich hoffe, bald perfekt Deutsch zu sprechen. (I hope to speak perfect German soon.)
- • Es ist wichtig, jeden Tag zu üben. (It is important to practice every day.)
- • Sie kam, um uns zu helfen. (She came to help us.)
Formation and Word Order
Infinitive clauses follow specific word order rules. The zu and the infinitive are placed at the end of the clause, and the infinitive clause is separated from the main clause by a comma.
Main clause + comma + zu + infinitive
| As Main Clause | With Infinitive Clause | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich sehe dich bald | Ich hoffe, dich bald zu sehen | I hope to see you soon |
| Sie besteht die Prüfung | Sie versucht, die Prüfung zu bestehen | She tries to pass the exam |
| Wir reisen nächstes Jahr nach Japan | Wir planen, nächstes Jahr nach Japan zu reisen | We plan to travel to Japan next year |
Separable Verbs
With separable verbs, zu is placed between the prefix and the verb stem, written as one word:
| Infinitive | With zu | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| aufstehen | aufzustehen | Er vergisst früh aufzustehen | He forgets to get up early |
| einkaufen | einzukaufen | Ich habe vor einzukaufen | I plan to go shopping |
| mitbringen | mitzubringen | Sie bittet mich etwas mitzubringen | She asks me to bring something along |
Types of Infinitive Clauses
Some specific verbs, adjectives, or nouns commonly trigger infinitive clauses.
Verbs of Intention and Hope
Many verbs expressing intention or hope are followed by infinitive clauses:
| Verb | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| hoffen | to hope | Ich hoffe, dich bald zu sehen | I hope to see you soon |
| versuchen | to try | Er versucht, pünktlich zu sein | He tries to be punctual |
| planen | to plan | Wir planen, umzuziehen | We plan to move |
| beginnen | to begin | Sie beginnt, Deutsch zu lernen | She begins to learn German |
| vergessen | to forget | Ich vergesse oft, zu frühstücken | I often forget to have breakfast |
Adjectives + es
Many adjectives used with es can be followed by infinitive clauses. These constructions express general statements or evaluations:
| Adjective | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| es ist wichtig | it is important | Es ist wichtig, Sport zu treiben | It is important to do sports |
| es ist schwer | it is difficult | Es ist schwer, ihn zu überzeugen | It is difficult to convince him |
| es ist gut | it is good | Es ist gut, früh aufzustehen | It is good to get up early |
| es ist möglich | it is possible | Es ist möglich, online zu arbeiten | It is possible to work online |
Noun Phrases
Certain nouns combined with haben or other verbs can introduce infinitive clauses:
| Noun Phrase | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lust haben | to feel like | Ich habe Lust, zu tanzen | I feel like dancing |
| Zeit haben | to have time | Sie hat Zeit, uns zu besuchen | She has time to visit us |
| Angst haben | to be afraid | Er hat Angst, zu versagen | He is afraid to fail |
Referring to Objects
Some verbs allow the infinitive clause to refer to their accusative or dative object rather than the subject:
- • Ich bitte dich, mir zu helfen. (I ask you to help me.)
- • Sie erlaubt ihm, zu bleiben. (She allows him to stay.)
- • Der Chef befiehlt uns, zu arbeiten. (The boss orders us to work.)
Special Infinitive Constructions
German has three special infinitive constructions that add specific meanings to the infinitive clause. Each uses a conjunction combined with zu + infinitive.
um...zu (in order to)
Um...zu expresses purpose or intention and answers the question "why?" or "for what purpose?". The um starts the infinitive clause, while zu + infinitive go at the end.
| Main Clause | Infinitive Clause | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich lerne Deutsch, | um in Deutschland zu arbeiten | I learn German in order to work in Germany |
| Sie spart Geld, | um ein Auto zu kaufen | She saves money to buy a car |
| Er joggt täglich, | um fit zu bleiben | He jogs daily to stay fit |
| Wir kamen früh, | um gute Plätze zu bekommen | We came early to get good seats |
ohne...zu (without)
Ohne...zu indicates that something doesn't happen while the main action occurs. It expresses the absence of an expected action.
| Main Clause | Infinitive Clause | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Er ging, | ohne ein Wort zu sagen | He left without saying a word |
| Sie bestand die Prüfung, | ohne viel zu lernen | She passed the exam without studying much |
| Du kannst nicht abnehmen, | ohne Sport zu treiben | You can't lose weight without exercising |
| Ich arbeite oft, | ohne Pausen zu machen | I often work without taking breaks |
(an)statt...zu (instead of)
(An)statt...zu shows what is done instead of something else. Both statt and anstatt can be used with the same meaning.
| Main Clause | Infinitive Clause | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Er sieht fern, | statt zu arbeiten | He watches TV instead of working |
| Sie liest, | anstatt zu schlafen | She reads instead of sleeping |
| Wir fahren mit dem Bus, | statt zu laufen | We take the bus instead of walking |
| Ich koche selbst, | anstatt Essen zu bestellen | I cook myself instead of ordering food |
Infinitive Clauses vs dass-Clauses
The choice between an infinitive clause and a dass-clause depends on whether the subjects of the main and subordinate clauses are the same or different.
When Subjects Match → Use Infinitive Clause
When the subject of the main clause and the implied subject of the subordinate clause are identical, use an infinitive clause with zu:
| Subject | Infinitive Clause | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | Ich hoffe, bald perfekt Deutsch zu sprechen | I hope to speak perfect German soon |
| Sie | Sie plant, nächstes Jahr zu heiraten | She plans to get married next year |
| Wir | Wir versuchen, pünktlich zu sein | We try to be punctual |
When Subjects Differ → Use dass-Clause
When the subjects are different, you must use a dass-clause with a conjugated verb:
| Main Subject | dass-Clause Subject | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | er | Ich hoffe, dass er sich besser fühlt | I hope that he feels better |
| Sie | ihre Eltern | Sie wünscht, dass ihre Eltern sie besuchen | She wishes that her parents visit her |
| Der Lehrer | die Schüler | Der Lehrer erwartet, dass die Schüler aufmerksam sind | The teacher expects that the students are attentive |