Infinitive clause in German
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Lesson outline
Hide- 1.What is a infinitive clause?
- 2.Infinitive clause with 'zu'
- 2.1.Building infinitive clauses
- 2.2.When to use the infinitive clause?
- 2.3.Verbs that initiate an infinitive clause
- 2.4.Adjectives and participles that initiate an infinitive clause
- 2.5.Nouns that initiate a infinitive clause
- 3.Exercises
- 3.1.Exercise: Complete the infinitive clause
What is a infinitive clause?
As the name suggests, an infinitive clause always contains a verb in its infinitive form, which is the not-conjugated form of the verb. The infinitive can be accompanied with or without the word "zu", which is the German equivalent for "to".
| Infinitiv without 'zu' | Sie kann die Prüfung schaffen. | She can pass the test |
| Infinitiv with 'zu' | Sie hofft, die Prüfung zu schaffen. | She hopes to pass the test |
For building the infinitive clause you always need the the infinitive form with "zu"!
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Infinitive clause with 'zu'
These clauses are without a subject. The subject is in the main clause, which stands before the infinitive clause. Infinitive clauses refer to the person or thing of the main clause!
Building infinitive clauses
As mentioned above, you always need zu + infinitive of the verb to build and infinitive clause. In German this combination will always be at the end of the infinitive clause, in English this is not the case.
- Ich plane (=main clause), nächsten Sommer nach Italien zu fahren (=infinitive clause). (I plan, to go to Italy next summer)
If the verb in the infinitive clause is a separable verb, then the "zu" will stand between the two parts of the verb.
- Er beginnt immer zu spät (=main clause), sich auf die Prüfung vorzubereiten (=infinitive clause). (He always begin late to prepare himself for the test)
When to use the infinitive clause?
After certain words you follow up with "zu" + infinitive. The following table provides you with the most important of these words.
Verbs that initiate an infinitive clause
| Infinitive | Translation | Main clause | Infinitive clause | Translation of the sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| anbieten | To offer | Sie hat uns angeboten, | bei dem Umzug zu helfen. | She offered to help us moving |
| anfangen | To start | Morgen fängt es an, | zu schneien. | Tomorrow it will start to snow |
| aufhören | To stop | Hör bitte auf, | zu schreien. | Please stop to scream |
| beginnen | To begin | Ich beginne jetzt schon, | mich auf die Klausur vorzubereiten. | I already begin to prepare myself for the exam |
| sich bemühen | To try | Er bemüht sich, | eine neue Wohnung zu finden. | He's trying to find a new apartment |
| bitten | To ask | Ich bitte dich, | die Tür zu schließen. | I ask you to close the door |
| denken an | To remember | Denk daran, | die Wäsche aufzuhängen. | Remember to hang up the laundry |
| erlauben | To allow | Meine Eltern erlauben mir, | im Sommer nach Spanien zu fliegen. | My parents allow me to fly to spain in the summer |
| glauben | To think / To believe | Warum glaubt er, | eines Tages berühmt zu sein. | Why does he think to be famous one day? |
| hoffen auf | To hope | Sie hofft immer noch darauf, | entdeckt zu werden. | They still hope to be discovered |
| verbieten | To forbid | Ihr Vater verbietet ihr, | abends auszugehen. | He father forbids her to go out in the evening |
| vergessen | To forget | Sie hat vergessen, | mir zum Geburtstag zu gratulieren. | She forgot to congratulate me to my birthday |
| versuchen | To try | Du kannst versuchen, | auf den Baum zu klettern. | You can try to climb up the tree |
| warnen vor | To warn | Ich habe dich davor gewarnt, | mit dem Motorrad zu fahren. | I warned you to drive with the motorcycle |
In German the infinitive always stands at the end of the sentence
Adjectives and participles that initiate an infinitive clause
| Infinitive | Translation | main clause | Infinitive clause | Translation of the sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bereit sein zu | To be prepared | Ich bin dazu bereit, | die Prüfung zu schreiben. | I am prepared to write the exam |
| entschlossen sein | To be determined | Wir sind entschlossen, | nach Italien zu fahren. | We are determined to go to Italy |
| erlaubt sein | To be allowed | Es ist erlaubt, | Fragen zu stellen. | He is allowed to ask questions |
| falsch sein | To be wrong | Es war falsch, | nicht die Wahrheit zu sagen. | It was wrong not to say the truth |
| gesund sein | To be healthy | Es ist nicht gesund, | jeden Tag Eis zu essen. | It is not healthy to drink a cup of coffee each morning |
| gewohnt sein | To be used to | Ich bin es gewohnt, | jeden Morgen eine Tasse Kaffee zu trinken. | I am used to drink a cup of coffee each morning |
| leicht sein | To be easy | Es ist leicht, | einfach aufzugeben. | It is easy to just give up |
| richtig sein | To be right | Es ist richtig, | seine Meinung zu sagen. | It is right to say your opinion |
| verboten sein | To be forbidden | Es war verboten, | am Gelände zu essen. | It was forbidden to eat at the rail |
Nouns that initiate a infinitive clause
| Infinitive | Translation | Main clause | Infinitive clause | Translation of the sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| die Absicht haben | To have the intention | Wir haben die Absicht, | nach Rom zu fahren. | We have the intention to go to rome |
| Angst haben (vor) | To have the fear | Sie hat Angst, | die Wahrheit zu sagen. | She has fear to say the truth |
| eine Freude sein | To be a joy | Es ist eine Freude, | dich zu sehen. | It is a joy to see you again |
| Problem haben | To have the problem | Er hat das Problem, | niemanden zu kennen. | He has the problem to know nobody |
| (keine) Zeit haben | (Not) having time | Ich habe keine Zeit, | dir zuzuhören. | I have no time to listen to you |
Prove your knowledge now with the following free exercise!
Exercises
Exercise: Complete the infinitive clause
Remember: An infinitive is always accompanied by the word "zu" and some German verbs are seperable!
1.) Morgen fängt es an, .
(Tomorrow it will begin to snow)
2.) Ich habe dich davor gewarnt, mit dem Motorrad .
(I warned you to drive with the motorcycle)
3.) Hör bitte auf, .
(Please stop to scream)
4.) Er bemüht sich, eine neue Wohnung .
(He's trying to find a new apartment)
5.) Ich bitte dich, die Tür .
(I ask you to close the door)
6.) Meine Eltern mir, nach Spanien .
(My parents allow me to fly to Spain)
7.) Sie hofft immer noch darauf, entdeckt .
(She's still hoping to be discovered)
8.) Sie hat , mir zum Geburtstag gratulieren.
(She forgot, to congratulate me for my birthday)
9.) Du kannst , auf den Baum .
(You can try to climb up the tree)
Exercises
Exercise: Complete the infinitive clause
Remember: An infinitive is always accompanied by the word "zu" and some German verbs are seperable!
1.) Morgen fängt es an, .
(Tomorrow it will begin to snow)
2.) Ich habe dich davor gewarnt, mit dem Motorrad .
(I warned you to drive with the motorcycle)
3.) Hör bitte auf, .
(Please stop to scream)
4.) Er bemüht sich, eine neue Wohnung .
(He's trying to find a new apartment)
5.) Ich bitte dich, die Tür .
(I ask you to close the door)
6.) Meine Eltern mir, nach Spanien .
(My parents allow me to fly to Spain)
7.) Sie hofft immer noch darauf, entdeckt .
(She's still hoping to be discovered)
8.) Sie hat , mir zum Geburtstag gratulieren.
(She forgot, to congratulate me for my birthday)
9.) Du kannst , auf den Baum .
(You can try to climb up the tree)
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I offer German language lessons for A1, A2, B1, B2 level and they include everything you need: grammar, speaking, writing, pronunciation and vocabulary.
This is ideal for students who want actively participate and speak more, learn new words and exercise the grammar. Or we can learn whatever you need, because I will always adapt to your needs. :)
I will support you during your learning experience and adapt to your learning tempo.
All learning materials and exercises are included and will be provided during the lesson.
The learning material is from various books (Schritte International, Menschen, Sicher im Alltag und Beruf, Begegnungen,...).
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Mihaela has helped me along with improving my german language skills over the past nine months with great success. She has a clear structured approach but constantly adapts the lessons to your needs and interests to keep you motivated. During the lessons, she consistently adds vocabulary to the discussion, meaning that you are always learning more without the feeling of being overwhelmed with information. She is also very flexible with bookings. I can positively recommend learning german with Mihaela.
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Hello,
my name is Nina, I'm from Austria and I also lived for one year and a half in Canada. I worked there as a German Teacher for adults, so I speak German, English and French.
I also teach English for beginners and advanced beginners.
My teaching methodes are totally based on the level of my student. If somebody is already advanced, I focus on communication and pronunciation. We will arrange on a topic and talk and discuss in the lesson about it.
If my student is a beginner, I'm gonna start with the basics of the German language. (the articles, the verb "to be", the pronouns...)
The learning material is all made by myself, because I'm a German teacher, so that means, I already got lots of working sheets for many topics. I send these to my student via e-mail or put it directly on the coLanguage homepage.
I'm available from Monday to Thursday between 5pm and 08:00 pm. For the weekend it's the best to just send me a request.
Of course is a free trial lesson (it's about 20 minutes) possible.
I'm happy to teach you :-)
See you soon! Nina
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Thank you very much !
Thanks to many years of experience, I offer you professional language instruction via Skype.
I am a native speaker (bilingual German and English) and have been working with Skype for over 9 years. The courses are optimally tailored to your language level and job description. Arrange a trial lesson.
Proficient handling of everyday German, leading to various certificates (Goethe Certificates, DaF etc.), specific courses for the professional field (hotel, tourism, law, medicine - FACHSPRACHENPRÜFUNG MEDIZIN, technology, business.....).
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Hallo :) My name is Mihaela and I was born in Switzerland. I have a Bachleor and Master degree as German teacher and more then 5 years experience.
I love languages, because of that I speak also Croatian and English. :)
- ABOUT THE CLASS -
I offer German language lessons for A1, A2, B1, B2 level and they include everything you need: grammar, speaking, writing, pronunciation and vocabulary.
This is ideal for students who want actively participate and speak more, learn new words and exercise the grammar. Or we can learn whatever you need, because I will always adapt to your needs. :)
I will support you during your learning experience and adapt to your learning tempo.
All learning materials and exercises are included and will be provided during the lesson.
The learning material is from various books (Schritte International, Menschen, Sicher im Alltag und Beruf, Begegnungen,...).
S. M.
Mihaela has helped me along with improving my german language skills over the past nine months with great success. She has a clear structured approach but constantly adapts the lessons to your needs and interests to keep you motivated. During the lessons, she consistently adds vocabulary to the discussion, meaning that you are always learning more without the feeling of being overwhelmed with information. She is also very flexible with bookings. I can positively recommend learning german with Mihaela.
Mihaela S.
I am a German native speaker who loves languages and am passionate about teaching others. I work as language teacher in a school, teach adults at the German Culture Center and prepare my students for all types of official language exams. I love my job and always seek to make it as much fun as possible.
P. M.
My experience with Melanie has been very positive, Melanie is a very qualified teacher and you can tell that from the beginning: very professional, very good methodology, diversity in material, etc. A real one on one experience as she focused together with learning of language in identification and correction of student weaknesses. My kid is engaged with her classes as he says are useful and fun, his progress in learning German has been noticed by all. I also like her flexibility to have classes during the weekends, that is a great emergency door. I am happy !! Highly recommended!!!
Melanie A.
Hello !
I am a teacher of French as a Foreign Language (FLE), with a Master's degree in Training Engineering, specialising in FLE, Professional French and International Cooperation. Your needs are individual: we evaluate them together and I propose you an adapted learning based on my experience as a student as well as in a professional situation. No traditional pedagogy, we will use IT tools (TICE) to live a playful experience, inscribed in the action pedagogy, communicative method. I will accompany you whatever your level, including in the preparation for the exams for which I am qualified (France Education International, ex CIEP, DELF/DALF).
It is the exchange that is important, we move forward together.
Passionate about this profession, it is the diversity of intercultural exchanges that enriches my practice, a necessary complement to my activity in training engineering. I need to keep in touch with learners, so see you soon!
A. S.
Isabel is a french teacher who is qualified and has a great deal of experience. She has taught in different countries including the USA and Japan, and counts with different learning materials to help achieve different objectives.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Isabel C.