1. Introduction
In German, the infinitive is the base form of a verb.
It names an action without showing person, number, or tense.
- gehen - to go
- lernen - to learn or study
- sehen - to see
- machen - to do or make
The infinitive can appear in several patterns.
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| without zu | Ich kann kommen. |
| with zu | Ich versuche zu kommen. |
| in a fixed infinitive clause | um zu lernen |
| with haben or sein | Ich habe viel zu tun. |
2. Infinitive without zu
The infinitive stands without zu after certain verbs.
2.1. After modal verbs
Modal verbs combine with an infinitive without zu. The conjugated modal verb takes second position, and the infinitive usually stands at the end of the sentence.
| Modal verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| können | can, be able to |
| müssen | must, have to |
| dürfen | may, be allowed to |
| sollen | should, be supposed to |
| wollen | want to |
| mögen | to like; in forms such as möchte, would like to |
- Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. - I can speak German.
- Wir müssen heute arbeiten. - We have to work today.
- Ich will morgen ins Kino gehen. - I want to go to the cinema tomorrow.
2.2. After verbs of perception
The infinitive without zu is also used after verbs of sensory perception.
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sehen | to see |
| hören | to hear |
| fühlen | to feel |
- Ich sehe ihn kommen. - I see him coming.
- Wir hören die Kinder lachen. - We hear the children laughing.
2.3. After machen, bleiben, schicken
After some other verbs, the infinitive can also stand without zu.
- Der Witz macht mich lachen. - The joke makes me laugh.
- Er bleibt sitzen. - He remains seated.
- Sie schickt den Sohn einkaufen. - She sends her son shopping.
2.4. After helfen, lernen, lehren
With helfen, lernen, and lehren, the infinitive often appears without zu, especially in short and simple structures. In longer infinitive clauses, the form with zu is also possible and often more natural in written German.
- Er hilft mir tragen. - He helps me carry something.
- Ich lerne schwimmen. - I am learning to swim.
- Der Lehrer lehrt die Kinder schreiben. - The teacher teaches the children to write.
3. Infinitive with zu
The infinitive with zu is used after many verbs, nouns, and adjectives.
zu is not translated as a separate word. It marks the following verb as an infinitive construction.
- Ich versuche zu schlafen. - I am trying to sleep.
- Sie beginnt zu arbeiten. - She starts working.
- Es ist schwer, das zu erklären. - It is hard to explain that.
4. Position of zu
With simple verbs, zu normally stands directly before the infinitive.
- Ich hoffe, dich bald zu sehen. - I hope to see you soon.
- Sie hat vergessen, den Brief zu schreiben. - She forgot to write the letter.
If the verb has a separable prefix, zu stands between the prefix and the verb stem.
| Infinitive | Infinitive with zu |
|---|---|
| anrufen | anzurufen |
| aufräumen | aufzuräumen |
| fernsehen | fernzusehen |
| einkaufen | einzukaufen |
- Ich habe vergessen, ihn anzurufen. - I forgot to call him.
- Er findet es nicht leicht, den ganzen Abend fernzusehen. - He does not find it easy to watch TV all evening.
5. Infinitive clauses
German has fixed infinitive clauses with zu. They often express purpose, replacement, or the absence of an accompanying action. The subject of the infinitive clause is usually the same as the subject of the main clause.
5.1. um ... zu + infinitive
um ... zu + Infinitiv expresses the purpose of an action.
- Sie fährt ins Ausland, um zu studieren. - She is going abroad in order to study.
- Ich gehe in die Bibliothek, um ein Buch zu lesen. - I am going to the library to read a book.
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| um | start of the purpose clause |
| other words | objects and adverbial information |
| zu + Infinitiv | the intended action |
5.2. statt ... zu + infinitive
statt ... zu + Infinitiv describes an expected action that does not happen because something else happens instead.
- Statt uns zu helfen, ging er ins Kino. - Instead of helping us, he went to the cinema.
- Statt zu schlafen, arbeitet sie. - Instead of sleeping, she is working.
5.3. ohne ... zu + infinitive
ohne ... zu + Infinitiv describes an action that does not accompany the main action.
- Er ging weg, ohne ein Wort zu sagen. - He went away without saying a word.
- Sie ging aus dem Zimmer, ohne sich zu verabschieden. - She left the room without saying goodbye.
6. The construction haben + zu + infinitive
The construction haben + zu + Infinitiv expresses necessity or obligation.
The subject usually names the person who has to do the action.
- Ich habe viel zu tun. - I have a lot to do.
- Wir haben diese Aufgabe zu lösen. - We have to solve this task.
- Du hast den Text zu lesen. - You have to read the text.
| Part | Example |
|---|---|
| subject | Ich |
| form of haben | habe |
| object or complement | viel |
| zu + Infinitiv | zu tun |
7. The construction sein + zu + infinitive
The construction sein + zu + Infinitiv can express possibility, impossibility, or necessity.
The subject usually names a thing or an abstract idea.
- Die Lösung ist zu finden. - The solution can be found.
- Die Lösung ist nicht zu finden. - The solution cannot be found.
- Diese Aufgabe ist heute zu machen. - This task has to be done today.
| Part | Example |
|---|---|
| subject | Die Lösung |
| form of sein | ist |
| zu + Infinitiv | zu finden |
Indefinite pronouns
8. What are indefinite pronouns?
Indefinite pronouns refer to a person, thing, or quantity in a non-specific way.
| Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|
| jeder | each, every |
| mancher | some, certain |
| alle | all, everyone |
| alles | everything |
| beide | both |
| einige | some, several |
| viele | many, a lot of |
| wenige | few, not many |
9. The pronoun jeder
jeder refers to each individual person or thing in a group. In the singular, it changes according to gender and case. In the plural, German usually uses alle.
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | jeder | jede | jedes | alle |
| Genitiv | jedes | jeder | jedes | aller |
| Dativ | jedem | jeder | jedem | allen |
| Akkusativ | jeden | jede | jedes | alle |
- Jeder Mensch ist einzigartig. - Every person is unique.
- Jedes Ende ist ein neuer Anfang. - Every ending is a new beginning.
- Trotz aller Prognosen regnet es immer wieder. - Despite all forecasts, it keeps raining again and again.
10. The pronoun mancher
mancher refers to an unspecified person or thing from a group. Its forms are declined like the forms of jeder.
- Mancher Mensch spricht wenig. - Some people speak little.
- Manche Fragen sind schwer. - Some questions are difficult.
- Mit manchem Problem muss man lange arbeiten. - With some problems, you have to work for a long time.
11. The pronouns alle, beide, einige, viele, wenige
These pronouns are often used in the plural. They change according to case.
| Case | beide | einige | viele | wenige |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | beide | einige | viele | wenige |
| Genitiv | beider | einiger | vieler | weniger |
| Dativ | beiden | einigen | vielen | wenigen |
| Akkusativ | beide | einige | viele | wenige |
- Er kann mit beiden Händen schreiben. - He can write with both hands.
- Einige Menschen finden diese Aufgabe schwer. - Some people find this task difficult.
- Viele Studenten lernen Deutsch. - Many students are learning German.
- Wenige Leute wissen das. - Few people know that.
12. The pronoun alles
alles is used in the neuter singular. It refers to a whole, a totality of things, or a complete situation.
| Case | Form |
|---|---|
| Nominativ | alles |
| Genitiv | alles |
| Dativ | allem |
| Akkusativ | alles |
- Alles ist fertig. - Everything is ready.
- Ich bin mit allem zufrieden. - I am satisfied with everything.
- Diese Leute sind zu allem bereit. - These people are ready for anything.
What to remember
- The infinitive names an action without person, number, or tense.
- After modal verbs, verbs of perception, and some other verbs, the infinitive is used without zu: Ich kann kommen.
- With many other verbs, nouns, and adjectives, the infinitive is used with zu: Ich versuche zu kommen.
- With separable-prefix verbs, zu stands between the prefix and the stem: anrufen - anzurufen.
- um ... zu expresses purpose: Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.
- statt ... zu replaces an expected action with another action: Statt zu schlafen, arbeitet er.
- ohne ... zu shows that an accompanying action is missing: Er ging weg, ohne etwas zu sagen.
- haben + zu + Infinitiv expresses obligation: Ich habe viel zu tun.
- sein + zu + Infinitiv expresses possibility, impossibility, or necessity: Die Lösung ist zu finden.
- Indefinite pronouns such as jeder, mancher, alle, alles, beide, einige, viele, and wenige refer to people, things, or quantities in a non-specific way.