Ch 12: Sparks And Vail German Grammar - Infinitival Constructions

Front 1

trans: He asked me to help him. [bieten]

Back 1

Er bat mich ihm zu helfen. (infinitival clause) [Note 1: the German infinitive is always preceded by "zu". Note 2: unlike English, the German infinitive must stand at the end of its clause (ihm zu helfen, not: to help him).

Front 2

trans: It's nice to see you again.

Back 2

Es ist nett Sie wiederzusehen. [Note 1: with separable-prefix verbs (e.g. wieder-sehen), the zu comes between the prefix and the basic verb. Note 2: according to the 1998 spelling reform, an infinitival clause is not separated by a comma.]

Front 3

trans: He started to work.

Back 3

Er fing zu arbeiten an. OR Er fing an zu arbeiten. [Note: When an infinitival construction consists only of an infinitive + zu, it is no longer treated as a complete clause. You have the option of either incorporating it in the main clause, or putting it after the main clause.]

Front 4

trans: I work nights [in order] to make more money.

Back 4

Ich arbeite nachts um mehr Geld zu verdienen. [um ...zu indicates purpose. It must be used when you can sensibly use "in order to" in English.]

Front 5

trans: He did it without asking me.

Back 5

Er hat es getan ohne mich zu fragen. [ohne ... zu is used with infinitives, whereas the equivalent English expression uses an -ing ending with the verb.]

Front 6

trans: Instead of sitting here, we should do something.

Back 6

Statt hier zu sitzen sollten wir etwas tun. [statt ... zu is used with infinitives, whereas the equivalent English expression uses an -ing ending with the verb.]

Front 7

trans: That can't be done.

Back 7

Das ist nicht zu machen. [This kind of infinitival construction is more common than in English, which sometimes uses can = passive infinitive (e.g. can't be done).]

Front 8

trans: That can be found in any department store.

Back 8

Das ist in jedem Kaufhaus zu finden. [This kind of infinitival construction is more common than in English, which sometimes uses can = passive infinitive (e.g. can't be done).]

Front 9

trans: I don't know what to do.

Back 9

Ich weiss nicht, was ich machen sollte. [Note: When a subordinate clause is introduced by a question word: English has "I don't know what I should do" as an option; German must use a full clause with a subject and conjugated verb. (Note also: sollte is polite form subj. II.)]

Front 10

trans: He told me to do it.

Back 10

Er sagte mir, dass ich es tun sollte. [Note 1: when sagen is used in the introductory clause, English has "He told me that I should do it" as an option; German must use a full clause with a subject and conjugated verb. Note 2: But when another verb is substituted for sagen, an infinitival clause is used, e.g. Er befahl mir das zu tun.]

Front 11

trans: He wants us to eat here.

Back 11

Er will, dass wir hier essen. [Note: This is an idiomatic construction in English; German must use a full clause with a conjugated verb.]

Front 12

Three cases in which English will use infinitival constructions and German will not.

Back 12

(i) question word, (ii) sagen, (iii) wollen
[I want (wollen) to say (sagen) a question (question word)]

[(i) when a subordinate clause is introduced by a question word, e.g. I don't know what to do vs. I weiss nicht, was ich machen sollen; (ii) when sagen is used in the introductory clause, e.g. He told me to do it vs. Er sagte mir, dass ich es tun sollte; (iii) the special case of wollen, e.g. He wants us to eat here vs. Er will, dass wir hier essen.]