How to use zu + infinitiv in German: Tips and Examples

Hallo fellow German learners, 

Today we are learning about the use of “zu” + infinitiv  in German. I would say this is just a basic introduction and it is at A2 level. 

So I have written some points down to be taken note of and this is not really comprehensive use of the preposition “zu” but it's just an idea how you might find it being used in everyday usage.

Important points to note:

• In German grammar, the infinitive can be used with or without the preposition “zu” depending on the verb it follows.

• The infinitive with “zu” is used when the verb is directly related to a second action and there are common constructions such as “um… zu”, “ohne… zu”, and “(an)statt… zu”.

• For separable verbs, “zu” is placed between the prefix and the verb.

• Some verbs, such as modal verbs, verbs of movement, and verbs of perception do not use the infinitive with “zu”.

Here are few examples of the use of  “zu” + infinitiv  in German sentences:

1. Ich habe keine Zeit, um ins Kino zu gehen. (I don’t have time to go to the cinema.)

2. Er versucht, seine Hausaufgaben zu machen. (He is trying to do his homework.)

3. Sie hat Angst, alleine zu reisen. (She is afraid to travel alone.)

4. Wir haben beschlossen, zu Hause zu bleiben. (We have decided to stay at home.)

5. Es ist schwer, einen Parkplatz zu finden. (It is difficult to find a parking space.)

6. Er hat vergessen, das Licht auszuschalten. (He forgot to turn off the light.)

7. Sie hat versprochen, pünktlich zu sein. (She promised to be on time.)

8. Ich habe beschlossen, einen neuen Job zu suchen. (I have decided to look for a new job.)

9. Es ist wichtig, genug Wasser zu trinken. (It is important to drink enough water.)

10. Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten. (I am learning German in order to work in Germany.)

In these examples, “zu” is used with the infinitive form of the verb to express purpose or intention.

Um …zu examples

1. Er spart Geld, um sich ein neues Auto zu kaufen. (He is saving money in order to buy a new car.)

2. Sie geht früh ins Bett, um morgen fit zu sein. (She goes to bed early in order to be fit tomorrow.)

3. Wir machen eine Pause, um etwas zu essen. (We are taking a break in order to eat something.)

4. Er liest das Buch, um sich auf die Prüfung vorzubereiten. (He is reading the book in order to prepare for the exam.)

In these examples, “um… zu” is used to express purpose or intention.

Ohne ….zu examples 

1. Er verließ das Haus, ohne zu frühstücken. (He left the house without having breakfast.)

2. Sie beendete das Gespräch, ohne sich zu verabschieden. (She ended the conversation without saying goodbye.)

3. Er schrieb den Brief, ohne ihn zu unterschreiben. (He wrote the letter without signing it.)

4. Sie ging spazieren, ohne ihre Jacke zu nehmen. (She went for a walk without taking her jacket.)

5. Er fuhr los, ohne die Adresse zu überprüfen. (He drove off without checking the address.)

In these examples, “ohne… zu” is used to express that an action was not performed.

(an)statt … zu examples 

1. Anstatt zu kochen, bestellten wir Pizza. (Instead of cooking, we ordered pizza.)

2. Statt zu laufen, nahm er das Fahrrad. (Instead of walking, he took the bike.)

3. Anstatt zu Hause zu bleiben, gingen wir ins Kino. (Instead of staying at home, we went to the cinema.)

4. Statt das Auto zu nehmen, fuhr er mit dem Zug. (Instead of taking the car, he took the train.)

5. Anstatt zu arbeiten, verbrachte er den Tag im Park. (Instead of working, he spent the day in the park.)

In these examples, "(an)statt... zu" is used to express that an alternative action was performed instead of the expected one.

There we have it! Have a nice time learning German. You can check out more content here

 

Introducing Yourself in German: The Top 10 Phrases You Need to Know.

To my fellow German language learner, I bring to you a simple German lesson with approach to introducing yourself in German even if you are not so confident yet.  

You can learn to pronounce the words in German properly by looking at the previous lessons I have had about how to pronounce words in German; you can find the link to the YouTube videos, here

So moving on.

If you are planning to travel to Germany or just want to learn German for personal or professional reasons, knowing how to introduce yourself in German is a great starting point. In this article, we will go over 10 German phrases that you can use to introduce yourself, with the name Sara as an example.

1. Hallo, ich bin Sara.

One of the simplest ways to introduce yourself in German is to say "Hallo, ich bin [Name]." This phrase translates to "Hello, I am Sara." It is a straightforward and polite way to greet someone and introduce yourself at the same time.

2. Mein Name ist Sara.

Another common phrase to introduce yourself in German is "Mein Name ist [Name]." In this case, it would be "Mein Name ist Sara." This translates to "My name is Sara" and is a polite and formal way to introduce yourself.

3. Ich heiße Sara.

If you want to be more casual, you can say "Ich heiße [Name]." This phrase translates to "I am called [Name]." For example, "Ich heiße Sara" means "I am called Sara." This is a simple and casual way to introduce yourself.

4. Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen.

After introducing yourself, it's polite to say "Es freut mich, Sie kennenzulernen." This phrase translates to "Pleased to meet you." It's a friendly and polite way to greet someone and show that you are happy to meet them.

5. Ich komme aus den USA.

If you want to share where you come from, you can say "Ich komme aus [Country/City]." For example, "Ich komme aus den USA" means "I come from the USA." This is a great way to start a conversation and show that you are interested in connecting with people from different parts of the world.

6. Ich spreche Deutsch/Englisch/Französisch.

If you want to share what languages you speak, you can say "Ich spreche [Language]." For example, "Ich spreche Deutsch" means "I speak German." This is a great way to show that you are interested in communicating with people in their own language.

7. Ich bin 25 Jahre alt.

If you want to share your age, you can say "Ich bin [Age] Jahre alt." For example, "Ich bin 25 Jahre alt" means "I am 25 years old." This is a simple and straightforward way to share information about yourself.

8. Ich arbeite/studiere als Lehrerin.

If you want to share what you do for a living or what you are studying, you can say "Ich arbeite/studiere als [Profession/Fachgebiet]." For example, "Ich arbeite als Lehrerin" means "I work as a teacher." This is a great way to share your interests and connect with people who have similar interests.

9. In meiner Freizeit mag ich Sport treiben.

If you want to share what you like to do in your free time, you can say "In meiner Freizeit mag ich [Hobby/Interesse]." For example, "In meiner Freizeit mag ich Sport treiben" means "In my free time, I like to do sports." This is a great way to show that you have other interests outside of work or studying.

10. Ich freue mich darauf, Sie besser kennenzulernen.

Finally, after introducing yourself and sharing some information about yourself, it's polite to say "Ich freue mich darauf, Sie besser kennenzulernen." This phrase translates to "I am looking forward to getting to know you.

There you have it. You just have to practise a bit more and before you know it you will become a very good German speaker! 

See you later!