Brottin

TOPIC · Sentence structure & conjunctions

The infinitive without "zu" in German (Infinitiv ohne zu)

A2B1

After this lesson you can recognize and correctly use common German infinitive structures without **zu** in basic sentences.

In this lesson you learn when German uses an infinitive without zu and how to build these structures correctly.

1After modal verbs

The main Modalverben are: dürfen, können, mögen, müssen, sollen, wollen. After these verbs, the second infinitive is always without zu and goes to the end of the clause.

ModalverbExampleMeaning
wollenIch will tanzen.I want to dance.
könnenIch kann gut schwimmen.I can swim well.
müssenWir müssen früh aufstehen.We have to get up early.
sollenDu sollst dein Zimmer aufräumen.You should tidy your room.

In the perfect tense, the full verb is still an infinitive without zu:

  • Ich habe tanzen wollen. (I wanted to dance.)
  • Wir haben früh aufstehen müssen. (We had to get up early.)

2After verbs of movement

With verbs like gehen, kommen, fahren, laufen, German often uses another infinitive without zu to express purpose.

ExampleMeaning
Ich gehe einkaufen.I am going (in order) to shop.
Wir kommen essen.We are coming to eat.
Er fährt schwimmen.He is going by car to go swimming.

Not every movement verb works like this, so focus on these common patterns.

3After perception verbs

With sehen, hören, fühlen, spüren, the infinitive without zu describes an action that you perceive.

ExampleMeaning
Ich höre ihn singen.I hear him sing.
Sie sieht den Apfel fallen.She sees the apple fall.
Wir fühlen den Boden beben.We feel the ground shake.

In the perfect tense the second infinitive still has no zu:

  • Ich habe ihn singen hören. (I heard him sing.)
  • Sie hat den Apfel fallen sehen. (She saw the apple fall.)

4After certain other verbs

Some verbs form fixed constructions with an infinitive without zu:

  • lassen (to let / to have someone do something)
  • bleiben (to remain in a state)
  • lernen, helfen, lehren (sometimes with, sometimes without zu)
VerbExampleMeaning
lassenIch lasse ihn kommen.I let him come.
bleibenAlle bleiben sitzen.Everyone stays seated.
lernenIch lerne schwimmen.I am learning to swim.
helfenEr hilft mir aufräumen.He helps me tidy up.

With lernen, helfen, lehren, forms with zu also exist in some varieties: Ich lerne schwimmen / Ich lerne schwimmen zu. For A2/B1, you can focus on the version without zu.

5Infinitive without zu vs with zu

  • After Modalverben: always without zu.
  • After perception verbs: typically without zu.
  • After many other verbs (for example versuchen, beginnen, vergessen): with zu: Ich versuche, das Auto zu reparieren. (I try to repair the car.)

If you are not sure, check a dictionary for the usual pattern (with or without zu).

summaryEn: After this lesson you can recognize and correctly use common German infinitive structures without zu in basic sentences.