Breakdown of Wir versuchen, eine herausragende Textur zu erreichen.
ein
a, an (eine)
wir
we
versuchen
to try
zu
to (infinitive marker)
Questions & Answers about Wir versuchen, eine herausragende Textur zu erreichen.
Why does this sentence use an infinitive with zu rather than a dass clause?
Because the subject of the main clause (Wir) is the exact same as the logical subject of the second action (we are the ones achieving the texture). When the subjects are identical, German strongly prefers reducing the dependent clause to an infinitive clause with zu. Saying Wir versuchen, dass wir eine herausragende Textur erreichen would sound very clumsy.
Where does the adjective herausragende come from?
It is built from the present participle of the separable verb herausragen (to stand out). You form the participle by adding -d to the infinitive to get herausragend (outstanding). Then, you add the standard adjective ending for a feminine accusative noun, which gives us the -e on the end.
Is the comma separating the main clause from the infinitive clause strictly required?
Under current German spelling rules, commas before infinitive clauses are sometimes optional. However, if the infinitive group is extended with additional words like objects or adverbs (as eine herausragende Textur does here), placing a comma is highly recommended to clarify the sentence structure.
What is the difference between using erreichen versus schaffen for "to achieve" here?