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An infinitive clause is dependent on the main clause of
the sentence for its meaning.
It has no grammatical subject, only an implied one, and therefore no
conjugated verb.
Verbs in a main clause that often introduce an infinitive clause:
to plan/intend/decide/hope to do something
to be in the mood/interested to do something
to have the desire to do something
to forget to do something
to start/stop to do something
to offer/advise to do something
to try/promise/suggest to do something
to have the possibility/opportunity to do something
it is nice/hard/difficult/complicated etc. to do something
The infinitive, preceded by the word "zu", goes to the
end of the infinitive clause, e.g.
Sie plant,
nach Deutschland
zu
fahren. (She plans to travel to Germany.)
Ich hoffe,
meinen Freund auf der
Party
zu treffen. (I hope to meet my friend at the
party.)
Er vergisst immer,
seine Hausaufgaben
zu machen. (He always forgets to do his homework.)
If the verb in question has a separable prefix, the "zu" goes
between the prefix and the
stem of the infinitive, e.g.
aufstehen, er steht auf: Sie plant,
morgen früher
aufzustehen.
(She plans to get up earlier tomorrow.)
ankommen, er kommt an: Ich hoffe,
bald in Berlin
anzukommen.
(I hope to arrive soon in Berlin.)
mitnehmen, er nimmt mit: Er vergisst immer,
seinen Regenschirm
mitzunehmen.
(He always forgets to bring his umbrella.)
An infinitive clause that contains only the verb and
possibly an adverb is not set off by a comma, while those with other
elements usually are, e.g.
Ich plane
zu bleiben. (I plan to stay.)
Ich plane,
drei Tage in Frankfurt
zu bleiben. (I plan to stay three days in
Frankfurt.)
An infinitive clause
can take on the role of the subject, e.g.
Nachhaltig zu leben, ist keine leichte
Sache. (It's not easy to live sustainably.)
Infinitive clauses with "um ... zu"
In German, you use "um ... zu" (in order to) to express an intention,
e.g.
Joachim verbringt den Sommer in Dublin. Warum macht er das? Er möchte sein Englisch
verbessern.
Joachim verbringt den Sommer in Dublin,
um sein Englisch
zu verbessern.
(Joachim spends the summer in Dublin, in order to improve his
English.)
Note: An infinitive clause with "um ... zu" is always set off by a comma. |