Let’s LearnDeutsch

Lesson 58 of 69 · B1, Unit 2: Complex sentences

zu + infinitive

After many verbs, nouns, and adjectives, a second verb comes at the end with zu: Ich versuche, pünktlich zu sein. Es ist schwer, Deutsch zu lernen. Ich habe keine Zeit, dich anzurufen. With separable verbs, zu slips between prefix and stem: anzurufen, aufzustehen.

um ... zu means 'in order to' and explains a purpose: Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten. Modal verbs, by contrast, never take zu: Ich muss arbeiten.

By the end you can:

  • use zu + infinitive after verbs like versuchen, vergessen, and anfangen
  • use um ... zu to express purpose
  • place zu correctly with separable verbs

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