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Sätze mit „zu + Infinitiv“ und „um … zu“

  • “zu + Infinitiv” is a common structure used to express purpose, desire, or an action related to the main verb.

  • “um... zu” is a clearer variant, used to emphasize the purpose of an action.

  • In addition, there are some special verbs that go with the infinitive without “zu”.

1. Why “zu” and “um... zu”?​

📌 In German, when you want to connect two verbs in the same sentence (especially when the second verb is in the infinitive form), you usually use “zu” before the infinitive.

Example:

  • Ich habe vergessen, das Licht auszumachen.
    (I forgot to turn off the light.)

Why not just use two verbs like in Vietnamese?
Because German requires a clear structure to maintain sentence order and correct grammar. When there's no modal verb (like können, müssen...), you need to use “zu + infinitive”.

2. When to use “um... zu”?​

🎯 Meaning:​

Used to express purpose – action A is done to achieve goal B.

🧠 Structure:​

Main clause, um ... zu + infinitive.

  • "um" begins the subordinate clause → indicates purpose

  • "zu" goes with the infinitive, usually at the end of the subordinate clause

Examples:

  • Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.
    (I learn German to study in Germany.)

  • Er spart Geld, um ein neues Auto zu kaufen.
    (He saves money to buy a new car.)

Note:

  • The subject of the main and subordinate clause must be the same when using “um… zu”.

  • If they are different, you should use the conjunction damit instead.

3. When to use “zu + infinitive” without “um”?​

🎯 Meaning:​

Used when the action does not necessarily express purpose, but:

  • After certain special verbs

  • After certain adjectives / nouns

  • To express feelings, possibilities, plans, etc.

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Put simply: when you want to use two verbs and one verb complements the other directly, just use "zu".

✅ Some verbs that go with “zu + infinitive”:​

Common verbsMeaning
anfangen / beginnento start
versuchento try
vergessento forget
hoffento hope
planento plan
aufhörento stop

Examples:

  • Ich habe angefangen, Deutsch zu lernen.
    (I started learning German.)

  • Er vergisst oft, die Tür abzuschließen.
    (He often forgets to lock the door.)

✅ Most adjectives go with “zu + infinitive”​

📌 When an adjective describes how easy/difficult, important, necessary something is… it is usually followed by “zu + infinitive”.

Common structure:
Es ist + adjective + , zu + infinitive.

AdjectiveExampleMeaning
einfach (easy)Es ist einfach, Deutsch zu lernen.Learning German is easy.
schwer (difficult)Es ist schwer, früh aufzustehen.Getting up early is hard.
wichtig (important)Es ist wichtig, regelmäßig zu üben.It’s important to practice regularly.
möglich (possible)Es ist möglich, das Problem zu lösen.It’s possible to solve the problem.
erlaubt (allowed)Es ist erlaubt, hier zu parken.Parking here is allowed.
verboten (forbidden)Es ist verboten, hier zu rauchen.Smoking here is forbidden.
nötig / notwendig (necessary)Es ist nötig, mehr zu lernen.It’s necessary to learn more.
gefährlich (dangerous)Es ist gefährlich, nachts allein zu gehen.It’s dangerous to walk alone at night.
angenehm (pleasant)Es ist angenehm, draußen zu sitzen.It’s pleasant to sit outside.
langweilig (boring)Es ist langweilig, allein zu reisen.Travelling alone is boring.

📌 Remember:

  • The structure "Es ist + adjective + zu + verb" is very common in both written and spoken German to express comments, opinions, or viewpoints.

  • The verb at the end of the subordinate clause is always the infinitive with zu.

4. When to use two verbs without “zu”?​

🎯 This happens when the main verb is a modal verb or certain special verbs like “lassen”, “sehen”, “hören”, “gehen”.​

VerbExample
können / müssen / sollen / wollen...Ich muss arbeiten.
lassenIch lasse mein Auto reparieren.
sehen / hörenIch höre ihn singen.
gehen (with “infinitiv + gehen”)Ich gehe einkaufen.

5. Compare "um... zu" and "zu + infinitive"​

Common mistake example:

Let’s take an example that is often confused.

  • Er vergisst oft, die Tür abzuschließen.
  • And Er vergisst oft, um die Tür abzuschließen.

They seem the same, so why not use um??

Original sentence:​

  1. ✅ Er vergisst oft, die Tür abzuschließen.
    → Correct, means: He often forgets to lock the door.

  2. ❌ Er vergisst oft, um die Tür abzuschließen.
    → Incorrect grammar in this context. You don’t use "um… zu" here.

🧠 Why NOT use "um... zu" in this sentence?​

👉 Because "um... zu" is only used to express purpose of an action.

A action to make B happen → um... zu + infinitive

But in this sentence:

Er vergisst oft, die Tür abzuschließen.

There’s no purpose here.
→ He forgets to do something → this is the content of the action "vergessen", not a purpose.

✅ In short:​

StructureUsed whenExample
zu + infinitiveAfter verbs like vergessen, anfangen, versuchen…Er vergisst, die Tür abzuschließen.
um… zu + infinitiveWhen expressing purpose of an actionIch stehe früh auf, um pünktlich zu sein.

🎯 Compare to understand better:​

SentenceMeaningType
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.I learn German to study in Germany → purposeum… zu
Ich vergesse, mein Handy mitzunehmen.I forget to take my phone → no purposezu

🎯 6. Summary: Key points to remember​

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  • “zu + infinitive” is often used after certain verbs, adjectives, or nouns to connect to an action.

  • “um… zu” emphasizes purpose, and is only used when the subject of both actions is the same.

  • Do not use “zu” with modal verbs, or some verbs like “lassen, sehen, hören, gehen”.

  • The main verb is always conjugated properly, the infinitive with “zu” comes at the end of the subordinate clause.

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