When do you use zu + Infinitiv in German?

Most verbs of wishing, hoping, intending, promising, and recommending take zu + Infinitiv as their complement: "Ich hoffe, morgen früh aufzustehen"; "Er versucht, pünktlich zu sein"; "Sie hat beschlossen, Deutsch zu lernen". Adjectives in constructions like "Es ist wichtig, regelmäßig zu üben" also require zu. A simple test: if the governing verb or adjective is not in the no-zu list (modals + a small set of modal-like verbs), you almost certainly need zu.

When is zu NOT used with an infinitive in German?

The no-zu list has two tiers. First, the six modal verbs (können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen, mögen) never take zu — "Ich kann schwimmen" (not "*zu schwimmen"). Second, the modal-like bare-infinitive verbs lassen, sehen, hören, helfen, lernen, gehen, and bleiben behave like modals in this respect: "Ich sehe sie kommen", "Er lässt das Auto reparieren", "Wir gehen einkaufen". Additionally, werden in Futur I takes a bare infinitive: "Sie wird morgen kommen". Memorise this short list and you can safely add zu after every other verb that takes a second verb.

What is um … zu and how is it different from damit?

Um … zu expresses purpose ("in order to") and requires the subject of the main clause and the infinitive clause to be the SAME person: "Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Berlin zu arbeiten" (same subject: I). damit also expresses purpose but allows a different subject in the subordinate clause: "Ich lerne Deutsch, damit meine Kinder stolz auf mich sind" (different subjects). This same-subject rule is the single most-missed point for English speakers, who use "in order to" freely regardless of subject. If in doubt: same subject → um … zu; different subjects → damit.

What is ohne … zu in German?

Ohne … zu means "without doing X" and requires the SAME subject as the main clause: "Sie hat gegessen, ohne zu bezahlen" (she ate without paying — same subject). If the subjects differ, use ohne dass: "Er ging weg, ohne dass ich es bemerkte" (he left without me noticing — different subjects). Ohne acts as a subordinating conjunction, and the infinitive goes to the end of the construction.

What is statt … zu / anstatt … zu in German?

Statt … zu (also written anstatt … zu) means "instead of doing X" and requires the same subject as the main clause: "Er schläft, statt zu lernen" (he is sleeping instead of studying). Anstatt … zu is the more emphatic variant with identical grammar. If the subjects differ, use statt dass or anstatt dass. Like um … zu and ohne … zu, the infinitive goes to the end of the construction and the whole phrase is separated from the main clause by a comma.

Where does zu go with separable-prefix verbs?

With separable verbs, zu slots BETWEEN the prefix and the stem, and the result is written as a single word: auf + zu + stehen = aufzustehen; ein + zu + kaufen = einzukaufen; mit + zu + nehmen = mitzunehmen. A common mistake is writing "*zu aufstehen" (incorrect — the prefix and stem do not split around a separate zu). In a sentence: "Ich versuche, früh aufzustehen" and "Er hat vergessen, die Eltern anzurufen".

Do you need a comma before an infinitive clause with zu?

A comma is REQUIRED when the infinitive clause is introduced by um, ohne, or statt, and also when the infinitive clause has its own object or adverbial modifier: "Ich habe vergessen, dir zu schreiben" (comma required because of the indirect object dir). The 1996 Rechtschreibreform made commas optional for short bare-infinitive clauses without additional elements ("Ich versuche zu schlafen" — comma before zu is now optional). For B1 exam purposes, the safe rule is: always write the comma for any extended infinitive clause.

What is the difference between a bare infinitive and zu + Infinitiv?

A bare infinitive (no zu) occurs after the six modal verbs, after lassen/sehen/hören/helfen/lernen/gehen/bleiben, with werden in Futur I, and in a few fixed expressions like "spazieren gehen" and "schlafen gehen". Zu + Infinitiv occurs after virtually every other verb, adjective, or nominal phrase that takes an infinitive complement. When in doubt, check whether the governing word is in the bare-infinitive list; if it is not, add zu.

Two infinitives in German: bare (with modals) and zu+Inf (with everyone else).

German has a short, fixed list of verbs that take a bare infinitive — the six modals plus seven modal-like verbs. Everyone else needs zu. Once you know that list by heart, the rule becomes additive rather than a minefield.

TL;DR

Default: zu + Infinitiv — after versuchen, hoffen, vergessen, and almost every other verb. Exception list: the six modal verbs (können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen, mögen) and seven modal-like verbs (lassen, sehen, hören, helfen, lernen, gehen, bleiben) take a bare infinitive. Three constructions: um…zu (purpose), ohne…zu (without doing), statt…zu (instead of doing) — all require the same subject as the main clause. Separable verbs: zu slots inside — aufzustehen, not *zu aufstehen.

The two-rule system

English uses "to + infinitive" in almost every situation regardless of context. German splits this into two constructions and the choice is verb-driven: a small fixed set of verbs takes a bare infinitive (no zu), while every other verb that takes a second verb uses zu + Infinitiv.

The pedagogical hook: memorise the no-zu list once, then always add zu otherwise. The list is short. Once you know it, the rule feels additive, not restrictive. The second load-bearing rule is the same-subject constraint on the three extended constructions (um…zu, ohne…zu, statt…zu) — these act like subordinate clauses and only work when the subject doing the infinitive action is the same person as the main clause subject.

These two rules — the no-zu list and the same-subject constraint — cover the vast majority of B1-exam errors on this topic.

zu required vs. zu forbidden

The decision is always driven by the governing verb. Check the no-zu list first; if the verb is not on it, add zu.

zu + Infinitiv vs. bare infinitive

The no-zu list is small and fixed. Every other verb that takes a second verb uses zu.

zu + Infinitiv after most verbs, adjectives, nominal phrases

Required after verbs of wishing, hoping, planning, promising; after adjectives in Es-ist-Adj-zu constructions; after nominal phrases with infinitive complement.

Ich versuche, früh aufzustehen.

I try to get up early.

Bare infinitive (no zu) after modals, modal-like verbs, werden

Forbidden after all 6 modal verbs, after lassen/sehen/hören/helfen/lernen/gehen/bleiben, and with werden in Futur I.

Ich kann früh aufstehen.

I can get up early.

Additional examples: 'Es ist wichtig, täglich zu üben' (zu required — adjective construction); 'Sie wird morgen kommen' (bare — werden in Futur I).

The no-zu list

Every member of this list takes a bare infinitive. Memorise both groups once — they do not grow.

Verbs that take a bare infinitive (no zu)

TABLE

Modal verbs (6) + modal-like verbs (7) + werden

Verb	Example (bare infinitive)
Modal verbs (6) — never take zu
können	Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
müssen	Er muss früh aufstehen.
dürfen	Sie darf hier parken.
sollen	Du sollst das lesen.
wollen	Wir wollen reisen.
mögen	Sie mag tanzen.
Modal-like verbs (7) + werden — also bare infinitive
lassen	Er lässt das Paket liefern.
sehen	Ich sehe sie kommen.
hören	Wir hören die Kinder singen.
helfen	Er hilft mir tragen.
lernen	Sie lernt kochen.
gehen	Wir gehen einkaufen.
bleiben	Er bleibt sitzen.
werden (Futur I)	Sie wird morgen kommen.

Cross-reference: the modal-like verbs are the same group that appears in the modal-verbs page under 'Modalähnliche Verben'.

Verbs that take zu + Infinitiv

This list is open-ended — most German verbs that take a second verb use zu. Below are the fifteen you will encounter most at B1.

Common verbs + zu + Infinitiv

LIST

anfangen

aufhören

beginnen

vergessen

versuchen

versprechen

erlauben

vorschlagen

beschließen

hoffen

planen

sich freuen

sich entscheiden

scheinen

brauchen

These verbs of wishing, hoping, intending, deciding, and promising all require zu before the infinitive complement.

versuchen Er versucht, jeden Tag zu laufen.

vergessen Sie hat vergessen, die Tür abzuschließen.

hoffen Ich hoffe, dich bald wiederzusehen.

beschließen Wir haben beschlossen, nach Berlin zu ziehen.

Separable verbs: where zu slots in

The rule is simple but frequently gets it wrong: with separable verbs, zu slots between the prefix and the stem, and the result is written as a single word. Never write a separate zu before the full separable verb.

aufstehen → aufzustehen

Ich versuche, früh aufzustehen.

einkaufen → einzukaufen

Sie hat vergessen, einzukaufen.

mitnehmen → mitzunehmen

Er hat vergessen, den Schlüssel mitzunehmen.

anrufen → anzurufen

Er hat vergessen, die Eltern anzurufen.

ausschlafen → auszuschlafen

Am Wochenende versuche ich auszuschlafen.

Common mistake: *zu aufstehen is wrong — the prefix and stem do not split around a separate zu. The correct form is aufzustehen (one word, zu in the middle).

Read: Prefix verbs — separable and inseparable →

The three constructions: um, ohne, statt

These three constructions extend a sentence by adding an infinitive clause. All three share one critical constraint: the subject of the infinitive clause must be the same as the subject of the main clause.

um … zu

in order to / purpose

Formula: main clause + , + um + … + zu + Infinitiv

Ich gehe in die Bibliothek, um zu lernen.

I go to the library in order to study.

Er spart Geld, um ein Auto zu kaufen.

He is saving money in order to buy a car.

Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Berlin zu arbeiten.

I am learning German in order to work in Berlin.

Sie arbeitet hart, um erfolgreich zu sein.

She works hard in order to be successful.

Same subject → um…zu / Different subject → damit

✓ Ich erkläre es langsam, um besser verstanden zu werden. (same subject — passive infinitive is fine with um…zu)

✓ Ich erkläre es langsam, damit die Kinder es verstehen. (different subject — damit is required)

The same-subject rule is the #1 source of B1-exam errors on this construction. English uses "in order to" freely regardless of subject; German does not.

ohne … zu

without doing X

Formula: main clause + , + ohne + … + zu + Infinitiv

Sie hat gegessen, ohne zu bezahlen.

She ate without paying.

Er hat den Test bestanden, ohne viel zu lernen.

He passed the test without studying much.

Sie ist gegangen, ohne ein Wort zu sagen.

She left without saying a word.

Er hat zugehört, ohne zu fragen.

He listened without asking questions.

Different subject → ohne dass

✓ Er ging weg, ohne dass ich es bemerkte. (different subjects — ohne dass is required)

statt … zu / anstatt … zu

instead of doing X

Formula: main clause + , + statt/anstatt + … + zu + Infinitiv

Er schläft, statt zu lernen.

He is sleeping instead of studying.

Sie surft im Internet, anstatt die Hausaufgaben zu machen.

She is browsing the internet instead of doing her homework.

Er geht spazieren, statt zu arbeiten.

He is going for a walk instead of working.

Sie redet, anstatt zuzuhören.

She talks instead of listening.

statt and anstatt are interchangeable here; anstatt is slightly more emphatic. Different subject → statt dass / anstatt dass.

Same-subject rule — the one rule to remember

Construction	Same subject?	Different subject?
um … zu	✓ yes	damit
ohne … zu	✓ yes	ohne dass
statt … zu	✓ yes	statt dass / anstatt dass

All three constructions require a comma separating them from the main clause. The different-subject alternatives (damit, ohne dass, statt dass) are full subordinate clauses with verb-final order.

Es ist + adjective + zu + Infinitiv

German frequently uses zu + Infinitiv after adjectives in an impersonal construction with placeholder es. This is the German equivalent of English "It is important to…", "It is easy to…", "It is fun to…".

Es ist wichtig, regelmäßig zu üben.

It is important to practise regularly.

Es ist schwierig, das zu verstehen.

It is difficult to understand that.

Es macht Spaß, Deutsch zu lernen.

It is fun to learn German.

Es ist möglich, das online zu studieren.

It is possible to study that online.

The placeholder es fills subject position; the real semantic subject is the infinitive clause. The comma before zu is required whenever the infinitive clause has its own adverbial or object — which is almost always in these constructions.

The comma rule

When is the comma required?

Always required when the infinitive clause is introduced by um, ohne, or statt.
Always required when the infinitive clause has its own object or adverbial modifier: "Ich habe vergessen, dir zu schreiben." (indirect object dir makes it extended — comma required).
Optional (post-1996 Rechtschreibreform) for short bare-infinitive clauses with no additional elements: "Ich versuche zu schlafen" — comma before zu is now optional in this case only.

required (object present)

Ich habe vergessen, dir zu schreiben.

optional (bare clause)

Ich versuche zu schlafen.

For B1 exam purposes, the safest rule: always write the comma before extended infinitive clauses. This covers all exam-relevant cases.

5 common mistakes

Adding zu after a modal

*Ich kann zu schwimmen. → Ich kann schwimmen.

Modal verbs never take zu. The infinitive follows directly.

Using um…zu with different subjects

*Ich erkläre es, um sie besser versteht. → Ich erkläre es, damit sie es besser versteht.

Different subjects → damit (subordinate clause), not um…zu.

Placing zu before the separable prefix

*zu aufstehen → aufzustehen

Zu slots between prefix and stem — the result is one word.

Forgetting the comma before an extended infinitive clause

*Ich habe vergessen dir zu schreiben. → Ich habe vergessen, dir zu schreiben.

When the infinitive clause has an object or adverbial, the comma is required.

Using um…zu where zu + Infinitiv alone is enough

*Ich versuche, um pünktlich zu sein. → Ich versuche, pünktlich zu sein.

Um…zu is a purpose phrase ("in order to"), not a general infinitive marker after governing verbs.