Infinitiv Mit Zu Und Ohne Zu

The use of infinitives in German can sometimes be confusing, especially for learners. One aspect that often causes difficulty is knowing when to use the infinitive with "zu" and when to use it without. This article provides a clear and practical explanation of this grammatical concept.

Infinitiv mit "zu" (Infinitive with "to")

The infinitive with "zu" functions much like the English "to" + verb. It often acts as a noun, adverb, or adjective, expanding the meaning of the main clause. Here are the most common situations where you'll need to use the "zu" infinitive:

1. After Certain Verbs

Many German verbs require an infinitive with "zu" to complete their meaning. These verbs often express an intention, a possibility, or a necessity. Here are some of the most common verbs that require "zu":

• versuchen (to try): Ich versuche, Deutsch zu lernen. (I try to learn German.)
• beginnen (to begin/start): Er beginnt, das Buch zu lesen. (He begins to read the book.)
• aufhören (to stop): Sie hört auf, zu rauchen. (She stops smoking.)
• vergessen (to forget): Ich habe vergessen, die Tür abzuschließen. (I forgot to lock the door.)
• glauben (to believe): Er glaubt, Recht zu haben. (He believes to be right.)
• hoffen (to hope): Wir hoffen, dich bald zu sehen. (We hope to see you soon.)
• planen (to plan): Sie plant, nach Berlin zu reisen. (She plans to travel to Berlin.)
• vorschlagen (to suggest): Er schlägt vor, ins Kino zu gehen. (He suggests going to the cinema.)
• sich entscheiden (to decide): Ich habe mich entschieden, das Auto zu kaufen. (I have decided to buy the car.)
• scheinen (to seem): Es scheint, zu regnen. (It seems to rain.)

Important Note: This is not an exhaustive list, and the best way to learn these verbs is through practice and exposure. Pay attention to how these verbs are used in context.

2. After Certain Adjectives

Some adjectives also require an infinitive with "zu" to express a specific quality or characteristic related to an action. Common adjectives in this category include:

• schwer (difficult): Es ist schwer, Deutsch zu lernen. (It is difficult to learn German.)
• leicht (easy): Es ist leicht, dieses Problem zu lösen. (It is easy to solve this problem.)
• wichtig (important): Es ist wichtig, pünktlich zu sein. (It is important to be punctual.)
• schön (nice/beautiful): Es ist schön, dich zu sehen. (It is nice to see you.)
• möglich (possible): Es ist möglich, das zu schaffen. (It is possible to achieve that.)
• notwendig (necessary): Es ist notwendig, früh aufzustehen. (It is necessary to get up early.)
• interessant (interesting): Es ist interessant, mehr über Geschichte zu lernen. (It is interesting to learn more about history.)
• angenehm (pleasant): Es ist angenehm, hier zu sein. (It's pleasant to be here.)

Example: Die Aufgabe ist leicht zu erledigen. (The task is easy to complete.)

3. After Certain Nouns

Certain nouns, especially those related to actions or processes, can be followed by an infinitive with "zu."

• die Möglichkeit (the possibility): Ich habe die Möglichkeit, nach Italien zu reisen. (I have the possibility to travel to Italy.)
• die Zeit (the time): Ich habe keine Zeit, dir zu helfen. (I don't have time to help you.)
• die Lust (the desire/inclination): Ich habe keine Lust, aufzuräumen. (I don't feel like cleaning up.)
• die Aufgabe (the task): Seine Aufgabe ist, die Präsentation vorzubereiten. (His task is to prepare the presentation.)
• die Erlaubnis (the permission): Er hat die Erlaubnis, das Auto zu fahren. (He has permission to drive the car.)

Example: Sie hat die Absicht, Medizin zu studieren. (She has the intention to study medicine.)

4. In "um…zu," "ohne…zu," and "anstatt…zu" Constructions

These constructions are used to express purpose, absence of action, and substitution, respectively.

• um…zu (in order to/to): Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren. (I am learning German in order to study in Germany.)
• ohne…zu (without): Er verließ das Haus, ohne sich zu verabschieden. (He left the house without saying goodbye.)
• anstatt…zu (instead of): Sie sah fern, anstatt ihre Hausaufgaben zu machen. (She watched television instead of doing her homework.)

Infinitiv ohne "zu" (Infinitive without "to")

In certain situations, the infinitive is used without "zu." This usually occurs when the infinitive is directly linked to a preceding verb, often an auxiliary verb or a modal verb.

1. With Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (können, dürfen, müssen, sollen, wollen, mögen) are always followed by an infinitive without "zu."

• Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German.)
• Du musst die Wahrheit sagen. (You must tell the truth.)
• Wir wollen ins Kino gehen. (We want to go to the cinema.)
• Er darf hier nicht parken. (He is not allowed to park here.)
• Sie soll ihre Hausaufgaben machen. (She should do her homework.)
• Ich mag Eis essen. (I like to eat ice cream.)

2. After the Verbs "bleiben," "lassen," "gehen," "sehen," "hören," and "fühlen" (in certain constructions)

These verbs often form a construction where they are followed by an infinitive without "zu" to express a continued state, causation, motion, or sensory perception.

• bleiben (to stay): Ich bleibe hier sitzen. (I remain sitting here.)
• lassen (to let/have something done): Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden. (I'm having my hair cut.) (Note: When "lassen" means "to leave," it does *not* take an infinitive. Example: "Ich lasse das Buch hier." - I leave the book here.)
• gehen (to go): Wir gehen schwimmen. (We go swimming.)
• sehen (to see): Ich sehe ihn kommen. (I see him coming.)
• hören (to hear): Ich höre sie singen. (I hear her singing.)
• fühlen (to feel): Ich fühle mich besser werden. (I feel myself getting better.)

3. With Auxiliary Verbs of Tense and Voice

Auxiliary verbs like haben, sein (for perfect tenses) and werden (for future tense and passive voice) are followed by infinitives or past participles without "zu," as they form the grammatical structure of the tense itself.

• Ich habe das Buch gelesen. (I have read the book.) (past participle)
• Ich werde das Buch lesen. (I will read the book.) (infinitive)
• Das Haus wird gebaut. (The house is being built.) (past participle)

4. After "helfen" (in some cases)

While helfen can sometimes take "zu," it is increasingly common to omit it, especially in spoken German. Both are correct, but the version without "zu" is often preferred.

• Ich helfe dir (zu) tragen. (I help you carry.)
• Kannst du mir helfen (zu) verstehen? (Can you help me understand?)

Summary Table

To quickly recap, consider the following table:

Practice and Common Mistakes

The key to mastering the use of infinitives with and without "zu" is consistent practice and awareness. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid:

By paying attention to these rules and practicing regularly, you'll significantly improve your understanding and usage of infinitives in German. Remember to focus on context and exposure to the language to solidify your knowledge.