Breakdown of Es ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen.
Questions & Answers about Es ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen.
Literally, Es ist wichtig means It is important.
- es here is a dummy subject (also called an impersonal es).
- German, like English, usually needs a subject, so es fills that spot:
- Es ist wichtig, … = It is important (to …).
You cannot normally just say Ist wichtig, den Semesterplan …. That would sound incomplete; German expects the es.
In German, you must put a comma before an infinitive clause with zu when that clause depends on an adjective like wichtig.
- Pattern:
- Es ist [Adjective], … zu + Infinitive.
- Es ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen.
So the comma separates the main clause (Es ist wichtig) from the infinitive clause (den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen).
Leaving out the comma is wrong in standard written German.
It’s an infinitive clause with zu.
- Main clause: Es ist wichtig.
- Infinitive clause: den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen = to read the semester schedule in time.
In this pattern:
- zu goes directly in front of the verb infinitive (lesen → zu lesen).
- Objects and adverbs (like den Semesterplan, rechtzeitig) go in front of zu lesen.
Because den Semesterplan is in the accusative case as the direct object of lesen.
- The base noun is der Semesterplan (masculine, singular, nominative).
- Masculine definite article declension:
- Nominative: der Semesterplan (subject)
- Accusative: den Semesterplan (direct object)
In … den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen, the implied structure is:
- (jemanden) den Semesterplan lesen → to read the semester schedule
So den Semesterplan must be accusative.
rechtzeitig means roughly in time, in good time, before it’s too late, early enough.
Nuance:
- Not necessarily early, but early enough for a purpose:
- before deadlines,
- before classes start,
- with enough time to react or plan.
So it focuses on timeliness relative to some need or deadline, not just general earliness.
rechtzeitig must go before zu lesen here:
- Correct: den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen
- Incorrect: den Semesterplan zu lesen rechtzeitig
In infinitive clauses with zu, the normal order is:
- Objects and adverbials (e.g. den Semesterplan, rechtzeitig)
- Then zu + infinitive (e.g. zu lesen)
You can change the order among the words before the verb for emphasis, like:
- rechtzeitig den Semesterplan zu lesen (slightly emphasizing on time)
But zu lesen must stay at the end of the clause.
In German subordinate structures (including infinitive clauses), the verb usually goes to the end of the clause.
- Main clause pattern: Ich lese den Semesterplan. (verb in 2nd position)
- Infinitive-clause pattern: … den Semesterplan zu lesen. (infinitive at the end)
So in den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen, the infinitive + zu forms the verbal idea and must occupy the final position in that clause.
- Gender: der Semesterplan (masculine)
- Plural: die Semesterpläne
Examples:
- Singular nominative: Der Semesterplan ist online.
- Plural nominative: Die Semesterpläne sind online.
It is capitalized because all nouns in German are capitalized:
der Semesterplan, die Universität, das Studium, etc.
Yes. A common alternative is:
- Es ist wichtig, dass man den Semesterplan rechtzeitig liest.
Differences:
zu + Infinitive version:
- More compact: … wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen.
- The subject of the action is understood from context (people in general, or you).
dass-clause version:
- Uses a full finite verb: … dass man den Semesterplan rechtzeitig liest.
- You can explicitly name the subject (man, du, ihr, die Studierenden, etc.).
- Slightly more explanatory or formal in tone.
Both are correct; the infinitive construction is a bit more concise.
No, not in standard German.
You need the dummy subject es in this kind of impersonal construction:
- Es ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen. ✅
- Ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen. ❌ (sounds incomplete, like a note or fragment)
Only in very casual notes or speech fragments might someone drop es, but grammatically the full form with es is correct and standard.
No, that word order is not natural.
- Correct: Es ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen.
- Incorrect: … den Semesterplan zu lesen rechtzeitig.
Reason: in an infinitive zu-clause, the verb (zu lesen) stays at the end, and adverbs like rechtzeitig normally go before that verb (or before the object, for emphasis):
- den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen
- rechtzeitig den Semesterplan zu lesen (emphasis on rechtzeitig)
Both express importance, but with different focus:
Es ist wichtig, den Semesterplan rechtzeitig zu lesen.
- General statement about importance.
- More impersonal and slightly more formal.
- Fits written instructions, study guides, official advice.
Du solltest den Semesterplan rechtzeitig lesen.
- Direct recommendation to you.
- More personal and conversational.
- Adds a gentle sense of obligation (should).
Content is similar, but the style and who is addressed are different.