Zu + Infinitive in German: When to Use Zu

Which words need zu

With zu or without?

The rule English speakers need most: after modal verbs and a few verbs of motion and perception, the infinitive comes bare. Everywhere else, add zu.

+ zu

no zu

Zu inside separable verbs

anrufen → anzurufen

With a separable verb, zu goes between the prefix and the verb, and the whole thing is written as one word. Inseparable verbs (be-, ver-, er-…) keep zu in front.

Three linking patterns

Um … zu, ohne … zu, anstatt … zu

These three frame the rest of the clause, with zu + infinitive at the very end. They only work when both parts have the same subject.

um … zuin order to

IchIlernelearnDeutsch,Germanumin-orderin Wienin Viennazutostudieren.study

ikh LER-ne DOITSH, um in VEEN tsu shtu-DEE-ren · “I’m learning German in order to study in Vienna.”Purpose. Answers the question wozu? (what for?)

ohne … zuwithout …ing

Erheging,wentohnewithoutTschüssbyezutosagen.say

air GING, OH-ne TSHÜS tsu ZAA-gen · “He left without saying goodbye.”English uses -ing; German uses zu + infinitive.

anstatt … zuinstead of …ing

Siesheschläft,sleepsanstattinstead-ofzutolernen.study

zee SHLAYFT, an-SHTAT tsu LER-nen · “She’s sleeping instead of studying.”Also shortened to statt … zu.

Same subject or different subject

Zu or dass?

If the person doing both things is the same, use zu. If it changes, you need a full dass clause with its own subject.

Same subject: zu

IchIhoffe,hopebaldsoonzutokommen.come

ikh HO-fe BALT tsu KO-men · “I hope to come soon.”

Different subject: dass

IchIhoffe,hopedassthatduyoubaldsoonkommst.come

ikh HO-fe, das doo BALT KOMST · “I hope you’ll come soon.”

Same subject: zu

Erhevergisst,forgetsdie Türthe doorabzuschließen.to-lock

air fer-GIST, dee TÜR AP-tsu-shlee-sen · “He forgets to lock the door.”

Different subject: dass

Erhevergisst,forgetsdassthatwirweheutetodaykommen.come

air fer-GIST, das veer HOI-te KO-men · “He forgets that we’re coming today.”

“Without -ing” and “instead of -ing”

Ohne … zu, statt … zu

English uses an -ing form after “without” and “instead of”. German uses the same frame as um … zu: the linking word first, zu + infinitive at the end, with a comma before.

ohne … zu

Erheging,wentohnewithouttschüssbyezutosagen.say

air GING, OH-ne TSHÜS tsu ZAA-gen · “He left without saying goodbye.”English -ing becomes zu + infinitive.

statt … zu

Stattinstead-ofzutolernen,studyspieltplayser.he

SHTAT tsu LER-nen, SHPEELT air · “Instead of studying, he plays.”When the zu-clause comes first, the main verb follows straight after the comma.

ohne … zu (separable)

Sieshekamcamerein,inohnewithoutanzuklopfen.to-knock

zee KAAM RAIN, OH-ne AN-tsu-klop-fen · “She came in without knocking.”zu goes inside the separable verb: anzuklopfen.

ohne dass (different subject)

Erheging,wentohne dasswithout thatwirwees merkten.it noticed

air GING, OH-ne das veer es MERK-ten · “He left without us noticing.”Different subjects: ohne dass + full clause, verb last.

Adjective + zu

Es ist schwer, Deutsch zu lernen

Es ist + adjective + comma + zu-infinitive is one of the most common patterns in German. Tap a row to hear it.

Keep going

Zu + infinitive in German: Ich habe keine Lust zu arbeiten, um … zu, and anzurufen