Infinitive Sentences – ZU + Infinitive in German / Infinitivkonsturktionen

In this lesson, you will learn everything about infinitive sentences in German, including infinitives with “zu,” infinitive clauses, how they are shortened, and the rules for creating infinitive constructions.

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CONTENTS

What is an infinitive clause in German?
Infinitive + zu
When is infinitive + zu possible?
Prepositional adverbs darum, dafür, … + zu + Infinitive
Word order

What is infinitive clause in German?

The infinitive construction is a shortened version of certain subordinate clause, that’s why we also classify it as a dependent clause.

German language learners often struggle with infinitive constructions at first. They find it challenging to shorten dependent clauses, which they already find difficult to learn. However, with time, they become much easier to use.

Infinitive constructions are also called infinitive sentences, “Infinitivgruppe” or “Infinitivsatz” in German. There are several types of infinitive sentences, such as:
zu + INFINITIVE
um…zu + INFINITIVE
ohne…zu + INFINITIVE
anstatt…zu + INFINITIVE
In this lesson, we will only talk about zu + INFINITIVE construction.

Infinitive clauses are a type of subordinate clause that is constructed with the verb in the infinitive form. In such constructions, the infinitive is preceded by “zu,” which is similar to the English “to” with an infinitive. The “zu + Infinitive” is placed at the end of the clause.

Er hat mir greaten, die Steuer so schnell wie möglich zu zahlen. – He advised me to pay the tax as soon as possible.

Zu + Infinitive

The infinitive with “zu” should be placed at the end of its clause, in the same position where the finite verb was. These clauses can depend on a noun, a verb or an adjective within the same sentence, in a subordinate clause.

Golden rules:

– zu + INFINITIVE is placed at the end of the sentence
– zu stands before the verb in the INFINITIVE
– infinitive construction does not have its subject. It refers to the subject in the main sentence.
– dass-Clause can be converted to the infinitive construction zu+INFINITIVE.

The infinitive construction with zu can be used after:

• the following verbs such as: anfangen (start), aufhören (stop), beginnen (begin), erlauben (allow), sich freuen (rejoice), hoffen (hope), verbieten (forbid), vergessen (forget), versuchen (try), vorhaben (intend), sich vorstellen (imagine) …
• adjective + sein/finden:
  Es ist…/Ich finde es stressig/toll/schwer/ schwierig/ inderessant/ anstrengend / leicht/… (I find it stressful/great/difficult/interesting/ tiring/easy…)
  Es ist langweilig, … Es ist schade, … Es ist leicht/schwer/ unmöglich, … (It’s boring, … It is a pity, … It is easy/difficult/impossible, …)
• NOUN + haben:
  Hast du Lust, … ( Do you have will/desire/ Will you,….)
  Zeit (time)/ Interesse (interest)/ Angst (fear)/ die Erlaubnis (permission) / die Möglichkeit ( possibility/ … haben (to have)

For example:
Es ist gefärlich, bei Rot die Straße zu überqueren.
Bei Rot die Straße zu überqueren, ist gefärlich.
Es is lost when the main clause is BEHIND the dependent clause.When the main clause is behind the dependent clause, “es” is lost.

When is infinitive + zu possible?

The infinitive with “zu” is possible:

• when the subject of the main and dependent clauses is the same.

For example:
dass-clause: Wir freuen uns, dass wir bald wieder zu Hause sind.
infinitive clause: Wir freuen uns, bald wieder zu Hause zu sein.

The infinitive construction refers to the subject in the main clause:

Remember the following text: The main sentence stays the same. The subject of the main clause (wir) is the same as the subject of the dependent clause (wir). This indicates that we can create an infinitive construction. To do this, remove the conjunction “dass” and the subject, and change the verb (sind) into an infinitive (sein) placed in front of “zu.”

• when the subject of the main clause is identical with the object of the dependent clause

For example:      subject                         object
dass-clause: Er bat mich, dass ich ihn anrufe.
ifinitive-clause: Er bat mich, ihn anzurufen.

Zu stands before the infinitive, but if it is a verb with a separable prefix, then between the prefix and the infinitive.

“Zu” is placed before the infinitive. If it’s a verb with a separable prefix, then “zu” goes between the prefix and the infinitive.
For example:
zu sehen
anzusehen

• When there is a modal verb at the end of the dass -clause, then we turn the modal verb into an infinitive: fahren zu können.

For example:
Ich hoffe, dass ich bald nach Hause fahren kann.
Ich hoffe, bald nach Hause fahren zu können.

• When the dass-clause is in the perfect tense, we put “zu” between the participle and the auxiliary verb (getroffen zu haben).
  For example:
  Ich glaube, dass ich die richtige Entscheidung getroffen habe.
  Ich glaube, die richtige Entscheidung getroffen zu haben.
• The construction “gerade/schon dabei sein + infinitive clause” indicates that something is currently happening or being done.
  For example: Er ist gerade dabei, einen neuen Job zu finden.

• When the object in the dependent clause comes after the verb, it expresses a wish, assumption, request, promise, or command, such as, for example:

auffordern(invite, demand), befehlen(order), bewegen/bewogen(encourage), bitten(beg), drängen(push), empfehlen(recommend), (er)mahnen(admonish), ersuchen(request), raten(advise ), verbieten(forbid), verlangen(demand), warnen(warn), zwingen(force).

For example:
Ich bat ihn, dass er nicht raucht.
       Ich bat ihn, nicht zu rauchen.
Er empfielt mir, dass ich am Abend spazierngehe.
      Er empfielt mir, am Abend spazierenzu gehen.
Die Eltern verbieten den Kindern, dass sie ins Kino gehen.
      Die Eltern verbieten den Kindern, ins Kino zu gehen.

• If there are multiple infinitives in a sentence, each one is preceded by “zu.”
  For example:
  Die Eltern erlauben den Kindern, auf den Spielplatz zu gehen und dort mit andern Kindern zu spielen.

Prepositional adverbs darum, dafür, … + zu + Infinitive

bitten um:
Er bittet darum, ihm beim Lernen zu helfen. -He asks for help with his studies.
Ich bitte ihn darum, das Fenster zu öffenen. -I ask him to open the window.
Die Lehrerein bittet die Schüler darum, still zu sein. -The teacher asks the pupils to be quiet.
hoffen auf:
Er hofft darauf, bald einen besseren Job zu finden. -He hopes to find a better job soon.

Word order

“Es” is omitted, when the main clause is BEHIND the dependent clause.

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