In this lesson, we will learn all about verbs that behave similarly as modal verbs, that is, they stand with another verb in the sentence, which occurs in the form of the INFINITIVA, but before the infinitive comes necessarily zu.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This is how verbs as modal verbs + zu differ from real modal verbs. Due to their specificity, we will pay more attention to some verbs. In German they are called Modal verb ähnliche Verben or Modalitäts verben.
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brauchen +zu
wissen + zu
scheinen + zu
drohen + zu
es gibt + zu
pflegen + zu
The most important verbs that have the role of modal verbs are certainly
sein + zu +infinitive and
haben + zu + infinitive,
we can also add the verb (nicht) brauchen +zu+ infinitive. Since they are the most important, they deserve a special lesson.
Here you can discover all about the constructions:
sein+zu +infinitive
haben +zu+infinitive
(nicht) brauchen +zu+ infinitive
In addition to these, there are other verbs that imitate modal verbs.
For example:
drohen +zu ⁕ pflegen+zu ⁕ scheinen + zu ⁕ es gibt + zu ⁕ gedenken + zu ⁕ suchen ⁕ vermögen + zu ⁕ versprechen + zu ⁕ verstehen + zu ⁕ wissen + zu.
Formulations with these verbs are often part of official usage. These verbs behave like modal verbs, but they do not belong to modal verbs, and they differ in that these verbs have zu before the infinitive.
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Grammar Content
brauchen + zu
nicht/ nur/ kaum brauchen
If brauchen is in the construction zu + infinitive, then there must also be negation in the sentence.
For example:
Du brauchst morgen nicht zu arbeiten.
It can be also said this way:
Du musst morgen nicht arbeiten.
If we use nur or kaum with brauchen, then there is no negation in the sentence:
Du brauchst nur den Chef anzurufen. = Du musst nur den Chef anrufen.
In spoken language, you can often hear the use of brauchen WITHOUT zu
So you can hear a sentence like this:
Du brauchst das nicht machen.
However, it is not grammatically correct. It is correct: Du brauchst das nicht zu machen.
wissen + zu
Ich weiß deine Hilfe sehr zu schätzen. – I really appreciate your help.
Er weiß sich zu beherrschen. – He knows how to control himself.
Wir wissen uns gut zu verteidigen. – We know how to defend ourselves.
Er wusste ihre Qualitäten nicht zu schätzen. – He didn’t know how to appreciate her qualities.
scheinen + zu
Das scheint schwieriger zu sein als ich dachte. – This seems to be harder than I thought.
Die Zeit scheint stillzustehen.– Time seems to stand still.
Sie schien ihn zu kennen. – He seemed to know him.
Er scheint ihn völlig zu übersehen. – He seems to have completely overlooked him.
Der Chef scheint in bester Laune zu sein.- The boss seems to be in a good mood.
The verb scheinen must be used in the past tense in the past tense, and it can also be used as a full verb without zu.
drohen + zu
Dass Flugzeug droht abzustürzen. – There is a danger that the plane will crash.
Das Schiff droht unterzugehen. – There is a danger that the ship will sink
Der Zug drohte zu entgleisen. – There is a danger that the train will derail.
The verb drohen must be used in the past tense in the past tense, and it can also be used as a full-fledged verb without zu.
es gibt + zu
Bei dem Projekt gibt es viel zu tun. – There is a lot to do on the project.
Es gibt noch einiges zu tun. – There is still something to do.
Da gibt es noch viel zu tun. – There is still a lot to do.
pflegen + zu
Er pflegt seine Exfrau immer mal wieder anzurufen. – He used to call his ex-wife from time to time.
Sie pflegen sonntags im Restaurant zu essen. – They used to eat in a restaurant on Sundays.
Meine Mutter pflegte zu sagen, niemand sei perfekt. – My mother used to say that nobody is perfect.
The verb pflegen must be used in the past tense in the past tense, and it can also be used as a full-fledged verb without zu, meaning to nurture.
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