Infinitive clauses with "zu"
When you want to express an intention, goal, or plan, you often link a main clause to an infinitive clause. Just like saying "I try to learn" in English, German uses zu (to) along with the infinitive form of a verb.
This is commonly used with verbs like versuchen (to try) and vorhaben (to intend).
| I try to jog daily. | Ich versuche, täglich zu joggen. |
| I intend to jog daily. | Ich habe vor, täglich zu joggen. |
Word order
Infinitive clauses are separated from the main clause by a comma. Inside the infinitive clause, any objects or extra information come first, and zu + the infinitive verb are placed at the very end.
| Are you trying to improve your German? | Versuchst du, dein Deutsch zu verbessern? |
| Do you often forget to drink water? | Vergisst du oft, Wasser zu trinken? |
Using nouns and adjectives
Infinitive clauses aren't just for verbs. You can also use them to expand on nouns—like a plan, a habit, or a goal—or after descriptive phrases starting with "Es ist..." (It is...).
| My plan is to do more sport. | Mein Plan ist es, mehr Sport zu machen. |
| It is difficult to achieve the goal. | Es ist schwierig, das Ziel zu erreichen. |
| They are afraid of not achieving the goal. | Sie haben Angst, das Ziel nicht zu erreichen. |
Separable verbs
When the verb in your infinitive clause is a separable verb, zu is squeezed directly between the separable prefix and the main verb stem. The whole combination is written together as a single word.
| It is a good habit to get up early. | Es ist eine gute Gewohnheit, früh aufzustehen. |