Breakdown of Das Protokoll ist zu unterschreiben.
sein
to be
unterschreiben
to sign
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
das Protokoll
the protocol
Questions & Answers about Das Protokoll ist zu unterschreiben.
Why use ist zu unterschreiben instead of the regular passive muss unterschrieben werden?
The structure sein + zu + infinitive is a more formal, shorter alternative to using a modal verb with the passive voice. Both mean the same thing here ('must be signed'), but ist zu unterschreiben is very common in official or written instructions, like workplace memos.
How do I know if ist zu unterschreiben means it must be signed or it can be signed?
The sein + zu + infinitive construction can express either necessity ('must') or possibility ('can'). Usually, context makes it clear. With official documents and signatures, it is almost always a requirement, so here it means 'must be signed.' If a sentence expresses possibility, you will often see a helper word like leicht (easily) or kaum (hardly) included to guide you.
Wait, isn't unter a separable prefix? Why isn't it unterzuschreiben?
In the word unterschreiben (to sign), the prefix unter- is inseparable. Because it is inseparable, the zu sits in front of the whole verb as a separate word (zu unterschreiben). If it were a separable verb, the zu would indeed get sandwiched in the middle to form one long word, like in aufzuschreiben (to write down).
Does das Protokoll mean a set of rules, like it usually does in English?
It can mean a diplomatic or technical protocol, but in everyday German business, university, and club settings, das Protokoll usually refers to the 'minutes' of a meeting or a written log of an event. So this sentence is likely an instruction for someone to officially sign the meeting minutes.
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