B1-14 · Use verbs followed by zu + infinitive
Lifelong learning
Plan a fictional evening course and practise infinitive phrases with zu.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Choosing another course
In this fictional story, Nils wants to return to learning after a long break. Verbs such as planen, versuchen and hoffen can introduce a second action with zu plus an infinitive.
Nils plant, einen Abendkurs zu besuchen.
Nils plans to attend an evening course.
Er versucht, jeden Tag Deutsch zu üben.
He tries to practise German every day.
Er hofft, im Kurs viel zu lernen.
He hopes to learn a lot in the course.
Er beginnt, seine Lernzeit zu planen.
He begins to plan his study time.
The first verb carries the person ending. The second verb stays in the infinitive after zu. Here a comma marks the start of each infinitive phrase.
02
Remember to sign up
Nils checks the registration tasks. With a separable verb, zu goes between the prefix and the verb: anmelden becomes anzumelden. Reflexive verbs keep their pronoun.
Nils versucht, sich heute anzumelden.
Nils tries to register today.
Er plant, am Computerkurs teilzunehmen.
He plans to take part in the computer course.
Er vergisst, das Formular auszufüllen.
He forgets to fill in the form.
Ich versuche, mich rechtzeitig anzumelden.
I try to register in time.
Sich anmelden means to register. Nils uses sich, but in a sentence about yourself use mich. For teilnehmen, the zu form is teilzunehmen.
03
Keeping a manageable routine
After registration, Nils sets a small weekly routine. Nicht can negate an infinitive phrase. When a modal verb such as wollen directly introduces an infinitive, there is no zu.
Nils verspricht, die Aufgaben nicht zu vergessen.
Nils promises not to forget the assignments.
Er versucht, auch schwierige Texte zu verstehen.
He tries to understand difficult texts too.
Er hört auf, nachts zu lernen.
He stops studying at night.
Er will am Wochenende lernen.
He wants to study at the weekend.
Compare Er plant, zu lernen with Er will lernen. Zu belongs to the construction with planen, but not to the one with wollen.
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