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Breakdown of Es gibt noch Wäsche zu waschen und Fenster zu putzen.
und
and
zu
to
das Fenster
the window
es
it
noch
still
geben
to give
waschen
to wash
putzen
to clean
die Wäsche
the laundry
Questions & Answers about Es gibt noch Wäsche zu waschen und Fenster zu putzen.
How does Es gibt work here? Does it change with plural, and which case does it take?
Es gibt is the standard way to say “there is/there are” in German. It always uses the 3rd person singular form gibt (never geben here), no matter if what follows is singular or plural. It also always governs the accusative case.
- Example (masculine shows the case): Es gibt den Tisch (accusative), not der Tisch.
- In the sentence, Wäsche and Fenster are in the accusative, but since they’re a mass noun and an articleless plural, you don’t see a case ending.
Could I say Es sind noch Fenster zu putzen or Es ist noch Wäsche zu waschen instead of Es gibt …?
Yes, sein + zu-Infinitiv is idiomatic: Es sind noch Fenster zu putzen (“There are still windows to be cleaned”), Es ist noch Wäsche zu waschen (“There is still laundry to be washed”). This construction sounds a bit closer to “to be done/left to do.” Using Es gibt is more neutral “there is/are.” In a mixed list like laundry (mass singular) and windows (plural), Es gibt neatly sidesteps a singular/plural agreement problem with sein.
What does noch mean here, and where should it go?
Here noch means “still” / “left (to do).” It indicates that these tasks remain.
- Default placement is right after the verb: Es gibt noch Wäsche …
- For emphasis you can front it: Noch gibt es Wäsche …
- Don’t place it between the noun and its zu-infinitive: Es gibt Wäsche noch zu waschen sounds awkward.
What is the zu + infinitive doing after the nouns?
The zu + infinitive forms an attributive infinitive phrase that modifies the noun, roughly “NOUN to VERB,” often paraphrasable as a relative clause or a passive necessity:
- Wäsche zu waschen ≈ “laundry to wash” ≈ Wäsche, die gewaschen werden muss
- Fenster zu putzen ≈ “windows to clean” ≈ Fenster, die geputzt werden müssen
Why are there no articles before Wäsche and Fenster?
- Wäsche is a mass noun used in a general, indefinite sense (“some laundry”), so no article is needed.
- Fenster is plural and indefinite; German typically omits the article with indefinite plurals in such contexts. You could add articles to specify known items: Es gibt noch die zwei Fenster zu putzen (the two specific windows).
Is Wäsche singular or plural? Can I say a plural like Wäschen?
Wäsche is grammatically singular and usually a mass noun (die Wäsche). A plural Wäschen exists but is rare and limited (e.g., different “loads/types of laundry” in specialized contexts). In everyday speech, keep Wäsche singular. If you want countable items, name them: Socken, Hemden, etc., or say Wäschestücke (“pieces of laundry”).
Why is Fenster the same in singular and plural?
Because Fenster is one of those neuter nouns whose plural is identical to the singular in form:
- Singular: das Fenster
- Plural: die Fenster Only the article shows number when present. With no article (as here), context tells you it’s plural.
Do I have to repeat zu before both verbs? Could I say Wäsche zu waschen und Fenster putzen?
You should repeat zu because each infinitive phrase belongs to its own noun: Wäsche zu waschen und Fenster zu putzen. Dropping the second zu is at best sloppy and at worst confusing. If you wrote Es gibt Wäsche und Fenster zu putzen, it would read as if both laundry and windows are “to be cleaned,” which is odd for Wäsche.
Could I reorganize it as Es gibt noch Wäsche und Fenster zu putzen?
Grammatically possible but changes the meaning: it now says there is laundry and windows “to clean,” which doesn’t match the usual verb for laundry (you wash it). The original pairs the right verb with each noun and is clear.
Where does zu go with separable-prefix verbs?
With separable verbs, zu slips between the prefix and the stem:
- aufräumen → aufzuräumen
- abwaschen → abzuwaschen So you’d say: Es gibt noch das Zimmer aufzuräumen und das Geschirr abzuwaschen.
How would I negate this? Is mehr needed?
Use kein(e) with mehr to mean “no longer/any more”:
- Es gibt keine Wäsche mehr zu waschen und keine Fenster mehr zu putzen. Without mehr, it means simply “there is no laundry/windows to … (at all).”
What’s the difference between this and saying Man muss noch Wäsche waschen und Fenster putzen?
- Es gibt noch … states the existence/availability of tasks left to do.
- Man muss … states an obligation/necessity (“someone/we have to do it”). Both often describe the same situation, but the focus differs: existence vs. duty.
Are any commas required in the original sentence?
No. You have two coordinated noun phrases, each with its own zu-infinitive, joined by und. No comma is needed. If you expand to full relative clauses, you would use commas: Es gibt noch Wäsche, die gewaschen werden muss, und Fenster, die geputzt werden müssen.
Any quick pronunciation tips for the tricky bits?
- Wäsche: “ä” like the “e” in “bed,” sch like “sh.” Approx: “VESH-uh.”
- Fenster: short “e,” clear “st,” final “-er” like a light “-uh.” Approx: “FENST-uh.”
- putzen: “z” = “ts.” Approx: “PUTS-en.”
Could I use um … zu … here?
No. Um … zu … expresses purpose (“in order to”). Here, zu waschen/zu putzen is an attributive description of tasks to be done, not a purpose clause. Stick with the bare zu-infinitive.
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German has four grammatical cases: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object), and genitive (possession). The case determines the form of articles and adjectives. For example, "the dog" is "der Hund" as a subject but "den Hund" as a direct object.
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