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Zu Infinitive

The 'zu + infinitive' construction in German is used to express purpose, intention, necessity, or obligation by placing 'zu' before the base form of a verb. It can indicate the purpose of an action, show intentions, indicate importance, and is required with certain verbs and adjectives. Notably, there is typically no subject change between the main clause and the infinitive phrase.

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848 views1 page

Zu Infinitive

The 'zu + infinitive' construction in German is used to express purpose, intention, necessity, or obligation by placing 'zu' before the base form of a verb. It can indicate the purpose of an action, show intentions, indicate importance, and is required with certain verbs and adjectives. Notably, there is typically no subject change between the main clause and the infinitive phrase.

Uploaded by

langstarsofficial
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

"zu + infinitive"

The "zu + infinitive" construction in German is a grammatical structure used to express


various concepts, such as purpose, intention, necessity, or obligation. Here’s a more detailed
explanation:

Structure

 "zu" + infinitive: The word "zu" is placed in front of the base form of the verb (the
infinitive).

Uses

1. Expressing Purpose:
o It can indicate the purpose of an action.
o Example: Ich lerne Deutsch, um zu reisen.
(I am learning German in order to travel.)
2. Expressing Intention or Plans:
o It shows what someone intends to do.
o Example: Ich habe vor, zu studieren.
(I plan to study.)
3. Indicating Necessity or Importance:
o It can express that something is necessary or important.
o Example: Es ist wichtig, zu üben.
(It is important to practice.)
4. With Certain Verbs:
o Some verbs require the "zu" infinitive structure, such as "versuchen" (to try),
"vergessen" (to forget), and "hoffen" (to hope).
o Example: Er versucht, das Problem zu lösen.
(He is trying to solve the problem.)
5. With Adjectives:
o It can follow adjectives to express necessity or suitability.
o Example: Es ist schwer, zu erklären.
(It is difficult to explain.)

Notes

 No Subject Change: In this construction, there is typically no change of subject


between the main clause and the infinitive phrase.
 Infinitive Verb Form: The verb that follows "zu" is always in its infinitive form
(e.g., lernen, reisen, machen).

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