B2 · 중상급 챕터 13

Streamlining Your Sentences

5 총 규칙
54 예문
6

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Transform your German sentences from clunky and repetitive to fluid, professional, and authentically native-sounding.

  • Master infinitive structures to reduce clause dependency.
  • Simplify complex sentences using anticipatory 'es' and verbal nouns.
  • Expand your vocabulary by substantivizing adjectives for precise expression.
Speak fluently, write concisely, sound native.

배울 내용

Hey there! Ready to take your German to the next level and truly sound like a native speaker? In this chapter, we're diving into some fantastic techniques that will make your sentences both more elegant and more concise. No more repetitive verbs! You'll master how to work with Infinitiv ohne zu and Infinitiv mit zu (infinitives with and without 'zu'). For example, when you want to say

I want to learn German,
you'll see how these structures make your sentences quick and fluid. Then, we'll explore 'es' as an anticipatory placeholder, which acts like a smart alternative for longer clauses, keeping your sentence structure clean and balanced. Ever wonder how to elegantly express two actions happening simultaneously? With 'beim' (verbal nouns), you'll learn to turn verbs into nouns to say things like
Beim Essen lese ich
(While eating, I read), instead of the longer
While I am eating, I read.
It's much more concise and natural! Finally, we'll tackle Adjectival Nouns, where adjectives become nouns, like Der Bekannte (the acquaintance) or das Neue (the new thing). These are incredibly useful and will make your German sound much more authentic. Imagine you're ordering in a German cafe and want to say
I would like to try the new coffee,
or discussing the known issues with friends. With these techniques, your sentences will become smoother, more precise, and significantly more professional. Let's get started and truly polish your German!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: convert subordinate clauses into concise infinitive or nominal phrases.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to your next step in mastering B2 German grammar! This chapter is designed to elevate your German beyond simply being understood, helping you sound more natural and sophisticated. We'll be focusing on techniques that streamline your sentences, making your communication both more elegant and more concise.
For learners aiming for a native speaker German proficiency, understanding these structures is crucial. You'll move from longer, sometimes clunky phrases to smooth, efficient expressions, a hallmark of advanced German sentence structure.
We'll dive into five essential grammar points that will empower you to express complex ideas with simplicity. From mastering Infinitiv ohne zu and Infinitiv mit zu to utilizing the anticipatory es, and transforming verbs into nouns with beim, you'll discover how to tighten your language. We’ll also explore German adjectival nouns, which are incredibly common and add a layer of naturalness to your speech.
These aren't just obscure rules; they are tools that native speakers use constantly to convey meaning clearly and economically.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll have a robust toolkit for crafting sentences that are not only grammatically correct but also flow effortlessly. Imagine being able to express simultaneous actions or refer to people and things with precision, all while sounding like you've lived in Germany for years. This guide will help you polish your German language skills and gain confidence in a variety of conversational settings, pushing you closer to that coveted native-like fluency.

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down these powerful tools for German sentence streamlining. First up are infinitives. You'll encounter the Infinitiv ohne zu (infinitive without ‘zu’) with modal verbs like können (can), wollen (want), müssen (must), and also with verbs of perception such as sehen (to see) or hören (to hear), and verbs of motion like gehen (to go).
For example: Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German.) or Wir gehen einkaufen. (We go shopping.)
In contrast, the Infinitiv mit zu (infinitive with ‘zu’) is used with many other verbs, adjectives, or nouns, especially when expressing purpose, intention, or necessity. The zu typically comes before the infinitive at the end of the clause. For instance: Es ist wichtig, pünktlich zu sein. (It is important to be punctual.) or Ich versuche, ihn zu verstehen. (I try to understand him.)
Next, we have the anticipatory es with infinitive clauses. This handy pronoun acts as a placeholder, making longer clauses easier to digest and balancing your sentence structure. Instead of starting with a long infinitive clause, es takes its place at the beginning, anticipating the clause that follows.
Example: Es ist schön, dich zu sehen. (It is nice to see you.) This is much smoother than
Dich zu sehen ist schön.
To express simultaneous actions concisely, beim (verbal nouns) is your friend. You use beim (a contraction of bei dem) followed by a capitalized infinitive (acting as a noun) to mean while doing something. For example: Beim Essen lese ich ein Buch. (While eating, I read a book.) This is a much more elegant alternative to a subordinate clause like
Während ich esse, lese ich ein Buch.
Finally, German adjectival nouns allow you to turn adjectives into nouns to refer to people or things, often without needing a separate noun. The adjective is capitalized and takes on the declension of a normal adjective. The gender and case depend on the context and the implied noun.
For people, you might say der Bekannte (the acquaintance, male) or die Bekannte (the acquaintance, female). For things or abstract concepts: das Neue (the new thing) or etwas Gutes (something good). These structures are incredibly common and will make your German sound much more authentic.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Wrong:
    Ich versuche, das verstehen.
Correct:
Ich versuche, das zu verstehen.
(I try to understand that.)
*Explanation:* The verb versuchen (to try) requires zu before the infinitive. Many verbs in German require Infinitiv mit zu when followed by another verb.
  1. 1Wrong:
    Während ich koche, höre ich Musik.
    (When a simpler, more concise option exists for simultaneous actions by the same subject)
Correct:
Beim Kochen höre ich Musik.
(While cooking, I listen to music.)
*Explanation:* Using beim + verbal noun (Kochen) is a much more idiomatic and concise way to express simultaneous actions by the same subject, making your German sound more natural.
  1. 1Wrong:
    Die neuen Sachen sind interessant.
    (Referring to new things in general)
Correct:
Das Neue ist interessant.
(The new thing/what's new is interesting.)
*Explanation:* To refer to abstract concepts or general things derived from adjectives, das + capitalized adjective is often used. This is a common way to form adjectival nouns for concepts.

Real Conversations

A

A

Es ist wirklich toll, dich wiederzusehen! (It's really great to see you again!)
B

B

Ja, das finde ich auch! Beim Reden merke ich, wie viel wir nachzuholen haben. (Yes, I think so too! While talking, I realize how much we have to catch up on.)
A

A

Hast du schon den neuen Kollegen kennengelernt? Der Neue fängt heute an. (Have you met the new colleague yet? The new guy starts today.)
B

B

Noch nicht, aber ich freue mich darauf, ihn kennenzulernen. (Not yet, but I'm looking forward to getting to know him.)

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I *never* use 'zu' with an infinitive in German?

You should never use 'zu' with an infinitive when it follows modal verbs (können, wollen, müssen, dürfen, sollen, mögen), verbs of perception (sehen, hören, fühlen), verbs of motion (gehen, fahren, kommen), or certain other verbs like bleiben (to stay) or lernen (to learn, in the sense of 'learn to do something').

Q

Can I use 'beim' for any while clause?

You can use beim + verbal noun when the action expressed by the verbal noun is happening simultaneously with another action, and both actions are performed by the *same subject*. It's a great way to make your German grammar B2 sentences more concise.

Q

How do I determine the gender of an adjectival noun for a person?

For adjectival nouns referring to people, the gender is determined by the person's biological gender: der Bekannte (male acquaintance), die Bekannte (female acquaintance). The ending will then decline like an adjective.

Cultural Context

Native German speakers frequently use these structures to achieve conciseness and clarity, whether in casual conversation or formal writing. The use of beim (verbal nouns) is incredibly common in everyday speech to describe concurrent activities, making sentences less clunky. Similarly, adjectival nouns are ubiquitous; from referring to people like der Alte (the old man) or die Junge (the young woman) to abstract concepts like das Wichtige (the important thing), they are a cornerstone of natural German expression.
Mastering these techniques will not only make your German more grammatically correct but also significantly more idiomatic, helping you integrate smoothly into German-speaking environments.

주요 예문 (8)

1

Ich gehe heute Abend mit meinen Freunden tanzen.

오늘 저녁에 친구들과 춤추러 가요.

'zu' 없는 부정사 (Infinitiv ohne zu)
2

Hast du den neuen Song im Radio spielen hören?

라디오에서 새 노래 나오는 거 들었어?

'zu' 없는 부정사 (Infinitiv ohne zu)
3

Ich habe vergessen, den {der|m} Laptop einzupacken.

노트북 챙기는 걸 잊어버렸어.

독일어 zu 부정사 완벽 가이드 (Infinitiv mit zu)
4

Es macht Spaß, diesen {der|m} Feed zu scrollen.

이 피드를 스크롤하는 건 재미있어.

독일어 zu 부정사 완벽 가이드 (Infinitiv mit zu)
5

Es ist wichtig, jeden Tag Vokabeln zu lernen.

매일 단어를 배우는 것은 중요해요.

자리 맡아두기: 부정사구와 함께 쓰이는 선행 'es'
6

Ich finde es toll, neue Leute auf TikTok kennenzulernen.

저는 틱톡에서 새로운 사람들을 만나는 것이 정말 좋아요.

자리 맡아두기: 부정사구와 함께 쓰이는 선행 'es'
7

Ich habe mir beim Kochen in den Finger geschnitten.

요리하다가 손가락을 베었어요.

'beim'으로 동시 동작 표현하기 (동사적 명사)
8

Bitte nicht stören beim Arbeiten!

일하는 중이니 방해하지 마세요!

'beim'으로 동시 동작 표현하기 (동사적 명사)

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

지름길 규칙

문장이 짧고 lernen이나 helfen 같은 동사와 함께 간단한 기술을 설명할 때는 거의 항상 zu를 생략해요. 이렇게 하면 훨씬 자연스럽고 능숙하게 들린답니다. Ich lerne tanzen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'zu' 없는 부정사 (Infinitiv ohne zu)
🎯

분리동사 샌드위치 법칙 🥪

분리동사를 사용할 때는 zu가 항상 접두사와 동사 어근 사이에 쏙 들어가요. 마치 샌드위치 속 재료처럼 딱 붙여주는 풀이라고 생각하면 돼요.
Es ist schwer, aufzustehen.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 zu 부정사 완벽 가이드 (Infinitiv mit zu)
⚠️

사라지는 'es'

만약 행동을 먼저 말하기 위해(예: 'Dich zu sehen...') 부정사절이 문장 맨 앞에 오면, es는 완전히 사라져야 해요. 둘 다 함께 사용하는 실수는 절대 하지 마세요!
Dich zu sehen ist schön.
(너를 보는 것은 아름답다.)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 자리 맡아두기: 부정사구와 함께 쓰이는 선행 'es'
🎯

동사 + 명사 합치기

명사와 동사를 합쳐서 긴 동명사를 만들 수도 있어요! 예를 들어, '텔레비전 보는 동안'은 beim Fernsehen, '커피 마시는 동안'은 beim Kaffeetrinken이라고 해요. 정말 흔하게 쓰이는 표현 방식이랍니다!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'beim'으로 동시 동작 표현하기 (동사적 명사)

핵심 어휘 (5)

vorhaben to intend/plan beim while/at the der Bekannte the acquaintance das Neue the new thing es it (placeholder)

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Business Networking

Review Summary

  • Modal + Infinitive
  • zu + Infinitive
  • Es + verb + ... + zu + Infinitive
  • beim + nominalized verb
  • Article + capitalized adjective

자주 하는 실수

Always use a comma before the infinitive group to ensure readability.

Wrong: Ich habe vor zu gehen.
정답: Ich habe vor, zu gehen.

Use the nominalized verb form, not a conjugated verb after 'beim'.

Wrong: Beim ich esse, lese ich.
정답: Beim Essen lese ich.

Adjectival nouns must be capitalized.

Wrong: Das ist das neue.
정답: Das ist das Neue.

이 챕터의 규칙 (5)

Next Steps

You have done incredible work today. Keep looking for these structures in your daily German reading, and you'll see your fluency skyrocket!

Read a German news article and highlight all 'zu' infinitives.

빠른 연습 (10)

동사 'lernen'을 올바른 형태로 채워 넣으세요.

Ich höre oft Musik ___(lernen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: beim Lernen
'beim' (bei dem의 축약형)을 사용하고, 명사로 쓰인 동사 'Lernen'은 반드시 대문자로 시작해야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'beim'으로 동시 동작 표현하기 (동사적 명사)

어떤 문장이 올바른가요?

운전에 대한 문법적으로 올바른 문장을 선택하세요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nicht telefonieren beim Fahren.
독일어 명사는 항상 대문자로 시작하고, 동명사는 항상 'beim'과 함께 쓰여요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'beim'으로 동시 동작 표현하기 (동사적 명사)

실수를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich habe beim essen mein Glas umgekippt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe beim Essen mein Glas umgekippt.
'beim' 전치사와 함께 사용된 'Essen'은 명사이므로 반드시 대문자로 시작해야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'beim'으로 동시 동작 표현하기 (동사적 명사)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 선택하세요.

올바른 버전을 선택하세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich genieße es, Musik zu hören.
'genießen' 동사는 부정사절이 뒤따라올 때 상관어 'es'를 필요로 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 자리 맡아두기: 부정사구와 함께 쓰이는 선행 'es'

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich muss morgen arbeiten.
조동사(muss)는 부정사와 함께 'zu'를 사용하지 않습니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 zu 부정사 완벽 가이드 (Infinitiv mit zu)

실수를 찾아 고치세요

Find and fix the mistake:

Du musst nicht zu weinen, alles wird gut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Du musst nicht weinen, alles wird gut.
müssen과 같은 모달 동사는 뒤에 오는 인피니티브와 함께 절대 zu를 사용하지 않는답니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'zu' 없는 부정사 (Infinitiv ohne zu)

빈칸을 채우세요

Ich treffe heute ___ im Park.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: einen Bekannten
'treffen' (만나다) 동사는 4격 목적어를 필요로 해요. 부정관사 뒤에 오는 남성 형용사 명사화는 4격에서 '-en' 어미를 취한답니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 독일어 형용사적 명사: 사람과 사물 ({der|m} Bekannte, {das|n} Neue)

빈칸에 올바른 형태를 채우세요 (`zu`가 필요 없으면 추가하지 마세요).

Ich sehe meine {die|f} {Nachbarin|f} jeden Tag ihr {das|n} {Auto|n} ___ (waschen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: waschen
sehen과 같은 지각 동사는 zu 없는 인피니티브를 문장 끝에 취해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'zu' 없는 부정사 (Infinitiv ohne zu)

자리 표시자 사용에서 오류를 찾아 수정하세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Zu lernen Deutsch es ist wichtig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deutsch zu lernen ist wichtig.
부정사절이 문장 맨 앞에 오면, 자리 표시자 'es'는 삭제되어야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 자리 맡아두기: 부정사구와 함께 쓰이는 선행 'es'

올바른 자리 표시 단어를 채워 넣으세요.

___ ist nicht einfach, eine Wohnung in Berlin zu finden.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es
1위치에서 'es'는 부정사절을 도입하는 표준 자리 표시자입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 자리 맡아두기: 부정사구와 함께 쓰이는 선행 'es'

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

모달 동사는 주동사의 의미를 직접적으로 보충해주는 보조 동사예요. 마치 하나의 동사 덩어리처럼 작동하기 때문에, zu와 같은 연결사는 필요 없어요. Ich kann singen (나는 노래할 수 있다)처럼 모달 동사 뒤에 오는 동사는 zu 없이 쓰인답니다.
아니요, 그렇게 말하면 틀려요. gehen 같은 이동 동사도 어떤 의도를 나타낼 때는 모달 동사처럼 행동한답니다. 그냥 Ich gehe einkaufen. (나는 쇼핑하러 가요) 라고 말하세요. 훨씬 자연스러워요!
보통은 안 돼요. 'gehen'이나 'fahren' 같은 이동 동사들은 'zu' 없이 단순 부정사를 사용합니다. 예를 들어, 'Ich gehe einkaufen' (나는 장 보러 간다)처럼요.
목적어는 'zu' 앞에 옵니다. 예를 들어, 'Ich versuche, das Buch zu lesen.'처럼요. 동사 'lesen'은 항상 맨 끝에 위치합니다.
'es'는 문법적인 자리 표시자 역할을 해요. 독일어 문장은 주절에 주어나 목적어가 반드시 있어야 하는데, 'es'가 뒤에 따라오는 더 긴 절을 위해 그 자리를 지켜주는 거죠. 마치 빈 의자를 미리 놓아두는 것과 같아요! 예를 들어,
Es ist wichtig, zu warten.
(기다리는 것은 중요해요.) 에서 'es'가 '기다리는 것'이라는 행동의 주어 자리를 채워줍니다.
네, 부정사절이 문장 맨 앞에 올 때는 'es'를 사용하면 안 돼요. 예를 들어,
Zu tanzen es ist toll
은 틀린 문장이에요. 대신
Zu tanzen ist toll
또는
Es ist toll, zu tanzen.
이라고 말해야 합니다.