Introduction to Nebensätze with zu + Infinitiv
In German, zu + Infinitiv constructions are commonly used to express purpose, intention, or a secondary action related to the main clause. This construction is similar to using “to + infinitive” in English, such as "I decided to learn German."
Basic Rules for Using zu + Infinitiv
The zu particle is placed directly before the infinitive verb at the end of the clause. Note that in some cases, an object may appear before zu + Infinitiv:
- Ich habe beschlossen, Deutsch zu lernen. - I decided to learn German.
- Er hofft, eine Reise nach Berlin zu machen. - He hopes to take a trip to Berlin.
Common Sentence Patterns with zu + Infinitiv
Here are some common phrases often used with the zu + Infinitiv construction:
- beschließen, zu + Infinitiv - to decide to
- hoffen, zu + Infinitiv - to hope to
- versuchen, zu + Infinitiv - to try to
- planen, zu + Infinitiv - to plan to
- vergessen, zu + Infinitiv - to forget to
Examples of zu + Infinitiv with Common Phrases
Ich versuche, jeden Tag Deutsch zu üben. - I try to practice German every day.
Wir planen, ein Haus zu kaufen. - We are planning to buy a house.
Sie hat vergessen, ihre Hausaufgaben zu machen. - She forgot to do her homework.
Using zu + Infinitiv with Separable Verbs
For separable verbs, the zu particle goes between the prefix and the main verb stem:
Er hat angefangen, das Geschirr abzuwaschen. - He started to wash the dishes.
Sie versucht, den Raum aufzuräumen. - She is trying to clean up the room.
Additional Examples
Here are more examples to understand the use of zu + Infinitiv in different contexts:
1. Ich habe die Absicht, mein Deutsch zu verbessern. - I intend to improve my German.
2. Wir hoffen, früh anzukommen. - We hope to arrive early.
3. Sie versucht, ihre Ziele zu erreichen. - She is trying to reach her goals.
4. Er plant, nach München zu ziehen. - He plans to move to Munich.
Note: Remember to place zu right before the infinitive and use appropriate word order for separable verbs.