B2 Infinitive Constructions 9 min read Easy

Infinitive without 'zu' (Infinitiv ohne zu)

Certain verbs like modals, movement, and perception verbs skip zu and place the infinitive at the sentence end.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Certain German verbs allow you to use a second verb in the infinitive form without needing the particle 'zu'.

  • Use with modal verbs: Ich kann schwimmen.
  • Use with verbs of perception: Ich sehe ihn kommen.
  • Use with movement verbs: Wir gehen tanzen.
Subject + Verb(Modal/Perception) + Object + Infinitive

Overview

Mastering the German infinitive without zu (Infinitiv ohne zu) marks a significant step in your B2 journey. While you are likely familiar with the common zu + Infinitive construction (e.g., Ich versuche, gesund zu essen.), German features specific verbs that mandate the infinitive without zu. This bare infinitive structure is not an omission but a distinct grammatical rule, essential for achieving natural-sounding German.

Understanding which verbs require this construction, and why, allows you to express complex ideas with greater fluency and precision, moving beyond textbook phrases to more idiomatic expression. It reflects a nuanced control over verbal complements that is characteristic of upper-intermediate proficiency.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the Infinitiv ohne zu arises from a direct syntactic relationship between the governing verb (the main verb) and the dependent infinitive. Unlike constructions with zu, which often introduce a separate clause or an element of purpose, intention, or future action, the bare infinitive typically describes an action that is immediately perceived, caused, or influenced by the main verb. The two verbs form a tighter semantic unit, with the infinitive functioning as a direct complement to the main verb, almost as if it were part of a compound verbal idea.
This direct governance means no intervening particle is required or permitted.
Linguistically, this phenomenon is often rooted in the historical development of German, where certain categories of verbs retained a closer bond with their infinitival complements. English exhibits a similar pattern with modal verbs (I can go) and verbs of perception (I saw him leave), where no equivalent of 'to' is used. In German, this principle extends to a broader set of verbs, particularly modals, verbs of perception, verbs of movement used with an implied purpose, and specific verbs like lassen and bleiben.
The infinitive, in these cases, retains its base form and typically occupies the final position in a simple declarative sentence, or remains part of the verb cluster in complex sentences, even in tenses like the Perfekt.
For example, in Ich höre dich singen. (I hear you singing/sing.), the act of singen is directly perceived by höre. There is no separation or indirectness implied by zu. Compare this to Ich verspreche, dich zu besuchen. (I promise to visit you.), where besuchen is a future intention, a more abstract complement to verspreche that requires the zu particle to link the clauses.
This directness versus indirectness is a key conceptual distinction governing the presence or absence of zu.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with the Infinitiv ohne zu generally follows a straightforward structure, though specific tenses introduce variations. The infinitive always remains in its base form, unconjugated, and typically appears at the end of the clause it belongs to.
2
Basic Structure (Present/Simple Past):
3
| Position 1 | Verb 1 (conjugated) | ... | Verb 2 (infinitive) |
4
|:----------:|:-------------------:|:---:|:-------------------:|
5
| Subject | Governing verb | ... | Bare infinitive |
6
| Ich | kann | ... | sprechen. |
7
| Wir | sahen | ihn | kommen. |
8
The conjugated governing verb (Verb 1) occupies the second position in a main clause.
9
Any objects, adverbs, or other sentence elements follow Verb 1.
10
The bare infinitive (Verb 2) is placed at the absolute end of the main clause.
11
Example: Du musst deine die Hausaufgaben machen. (You must do your homework.)
12
Example: Ich sehe die Kinder spielen. (I see the children playing.)
13
Perfect Tense (Perfekt) and Past Perfect (Plusquamperfekt): The Double Infinitive (Ersatzinfinitiv)
14
This is a crucial and often challenging aspect for B2 learners. When a modal verb, a verb of perception (sehen, hören, fühlen), or verbs like lassen, helfen (when governing a bare infinitive) are used in the Perfekt or Plusquamperfekt, they do not form their past participle (Partizip II). Instead, both the auxiliary verb (haben) and the governing verb (in its infinitive form) appear alongside the main infinitive, forming a "double infinitive" construction at the end of the sentence.
15
Structure for Double Infinitive:
16
| Position 1 | Auxiliary (haben, conjugated) | ... | Infinitive (governing verb) | Infinitive (main verb) |
17
|:----------:|:-----------------------------:|:---:|:---------------------------:|:-----------------------:|
18
| Subject | haben (conjugated) | ... | Governing verb (infinitive) | Main verb (infinitive) |
19
| Ich | habe | ihn | kommen | sehen. |
20
| Sie | hatte | es | machen | lassen. |
21
The auxiliary verb haben is conjugated and takes the second position.
22
The governing verb (sehen, hören, lassen, modals, etc.) appears in its infinitive form, not as a past participle.
23
The main verb also appears in its infinitive form.
24
Example: Wir haben die Aufführung beginnen sehen. (We saw the performance begin.)
25
(Incorrect: Wir haben die Aufführung beginnen gesehen.)
26
Example: Er hat seine die Freunde nicht besuchen können. (He was not able to visit his friends.)
27
(Incorrect: Er hat seine Freunde nicht besuchen gekonnt.)
28
Subordinate Clauses:
29
In subordinate clauses, the entire verb group (governing verb + bare infinitive, or double infinitive construction) moves to the very end of the clause, with the conjugated auxiliary (if present) often being the final element.
30
Example: Ich weiß, dass er den(m) Film(m) sehen muss. (I know that he must watch the movie.)
31
Example: Ich frage mich, ob sie ihn(m) das Lied(n) singen hören hat. (I wonder if she heard him sing the song.)

When To Use It

The Infinitiv ohne zu is employed with specific categories of verbs. These verbs imply a direct connection or immediate consequence with the action expressed by the second infinitive.
  1. 1Modal Verbs: This is the most common and foundational category. Modal verbs inherently describe a mood, possibility, necessity, or permission regarding an action. They always take a bare infinitive.
  • können (can, be able to)
  • müssen (must, have to)
  • dürfen (may, be allowed to)
  • sollen (should, be supposed to)
  • wollen (want to, intend to)
  • mögen (to like to, to want to – often as möchte)
Example: Ich kann das Rätsel(n) lösen. (I can solve the riddle.)
Example: Sie sollte die Regeln beachten. (She should observe the rules.)
Example: Wir wollen eine neue die Sprache lernen. (We want to learn a new language.)
  1. 1Verbs of Perception (Verben der Wahrnehmung): When you perceive an action directly – seeing, hearing, feeling – the second verb appears as a bare infinitive.
  • sehen (to see)
  • hören (to hear)
  • fühlen (to feel)
  • spüren (to feel, sense)
Example: Hast du ihn(m) das Lied(n) singen hören? (Did you hear him sing the song?)
Example: Ich fühle den(m) Boden(m) zittern. (I feel the ground trembling.)
Example: Sie sahen ihr(f) das Gepäck(n) nehmen. (They saw her take her luggage.)
  1. 1Verbs of Movement with Implied Purpose (Verben der Bewegung): Certain verbs of movement, when combined with another verb, imply an immediate purpose or activity. The movement and the action are inherently linked.
  • gehen (to go)
  • fahren (to drive/ride)
  • kommen (to come)
Example: Ich gehe den(m) Hund(m) füttern. (I am going to feed the dog.)
Example: Er kommt uns(m) besuchen. (He is coming to visit us.)
Example: Sie fährt ihr(n) Auto(n) reparieren. (She drives to get her car repaired.)
  1. 1lassen (to let, to have something done): lassen is a versatile verb indicating permission, causation (having something done), or leaving something in a certain state. It consistently takes the bare infinitive.
Example: Lass mich(m) das erklären. (Let me explain that.)
Example: Ich lasse mein(n) Haar(n) schneiden. (I am having my hair cut.)
Example: Lass uns(f) treffen! (Let's meet!)
  1. 1bleiben (to remain, to stay): When bleiben is followed by verbs of posture or state, it takes the bare infinitive.
Example: Er bleibt sitzen. (He remains seated/stays sitting.)
Example: Sie blieb stehen. (She remained standing/stood still.)
Example: Warum bleibst du liegen? (Why are you still lying down?)
  1. 1helfen, lernen, lehren (to help, to learn, to teach): These verbs present a choice: they can take either the bare infinitive or the zu + Infinitive construction. The choice often depends on the complexity or length of the infinitive phrase, or a subtle difference in emphasis.
  • Without zu: Often preferred for shorter, simpler infinitive phrases, emphasizing the direct action.
Example: Ich helfe ihm(m) tragen. (I help him carry.)
Example: Wir lernen kochen. (We are learning to cook.)
Example: Sie lehrt ihr(f) Kind(n) lesen. (She teaches her child to read.)
  • With zu: Preferred for longer, more complex infinitive phrases, or when there's a slight pause or detachment between the main verb and the action.
Example: Ich helfe ihm(m), die schweren die Kisten(f) zu tragen. (I help him to carry the heavy boxes.)
Example: Wir lernen, ein neues das Rezept(n) zu kochen. (We are learning to cook a new recipe.)

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when navigating the Infinitiv ohne zu. Awareness of these common errors, and the reasons behind them, is key to avoiding them.
  1. 1The "Zombie zu": The most prevalent error is mistakenly inserting zu before an infinitive where it is forbidden. This often stems from an overgeneralization of the zu + Infinitive rule, which is indeed more common in German. You might hear learners say Ich kann zu sprechen instead of Ich kann sprechen, or Ich habe ihn zu singen gehört instead of Ich habe ihn singen hören. Always remember that the categories of verbs listed above actively exclude zu.
  1. 1Incorrect Past Participle in Perfekt (Double Infinitive Error): A significant challenge is using the past participle (Partizip II) instead of the infinitive for the governing verb in Perfekt or Plusquamperfekt constructions involving modals, perception verbs, lassen, and helfen. For example, a learner might say Ich habe ihn gesehen kommen (incorrect) instead of Ich habe ihn kommen sehen (correct). This error often arises because forming the past participle is the default for most verbs in the Perfekt. The double infinitive (Ersatzinfinitiv) is an exception that must be actively learned and applied to these specific verbs. The linguistic reason for this

Modal Verb + Infinitive

Subject Modal Verb Infinitive
Ich
kann
schwimmen
Du
musst
lernen
Er/Sie/Es
will
spielen
Wir
sollen
arbeiten
Ihr
dürft
gehen
Sie/sie
mögen
lesen

Meanings

This construction involves using a secondary verb in its base infinitive form directly after a primary verb, omitting the standard 'zu' particle.

1

Modal Verbs

Used with können, müssen, sollen, dürfen, wollen, mögen.

“Ich muss jetzt gehen.”

“Du sollst das nicht tun.”

2

Verbs of Perception

Used with sehen, hören, fühlen, spüren.

“Ich höre den Hund bellen.”

“Sie sieht das Kind spielen.”

3

Verbs of Motion

Used with gehen, fahren, kommen.

“Wir gehen schwimmen.”

“Er kommt mich besuchen.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Infinitive without 'zu' (Infinitiv ohne zu)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Verb + Inf
Ich kann singen.
Negative
Subj + Verb + nicht + Inf
Ich kann nicht singen.
Question
Verb + Subj + Inf?
Kannst du singen?
Perception
Subj + Verb + Obj + Inf
Ich sehe ihn kommen.
Motion
Subj + Verb + Inf
Wir gehen tanzen.
Perfect
Subj + haben + Inf + lassen
Ich habe ihn kommen lassen.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich möchte nach Hause gehen.

Ich möchte nach Hause gehen. (Daily life)

Neutral
Ich will nach Hause gehen.

Ich will nach Hause gehen. (Daily life)

Informal
Ich will heim.

Ich will heim. (Daily life)

Slang
Ich will abhaun.

Ich will abhaun. (Daily life)

The 'No-Zu' Family

Infinitiv ohne zu

Modals

  • können can
  • müssen must

Perception

  • sehen see
  • hören hear

Motion

  • gehen go
  • fahren drive
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Examples by Level

1

Ich kann schwimmen.

I can swim.

2

Wir wollen essen.

We want to eat.

3

Du musst lernen.

You must study.

4

Sie darf spielen.

She is allowed to play.

1

Ich gehe einkaufen.

I am going shopping.

2

Ich sehe ihn kommen.

I see him coming.

3

Wir fahren schwimmen.

We are driving to swim.

4

Hörst du den Vogel singen?

Do you hear the bird singing?

1

Er lässt das Auto reparieren.

He is having the car repaired.

2

Ich spüre den Boden beben.

I feel the ground shaking.

3

Sie lernt Klavier spielen.

She is learning to play piano.

4

Wir bleiben sitzen.

We remain seated.

1

Ich würde dich gerne besuchen kommen.

I would like to come visit you.

2

Man kann das nicht einfach so geschehen lassen.

One cannot simply let that happen.

3

Sie sah ihn das Haus verlassen.

She saw him leave the house.

4

Er hat mich kommen lassen.

He let me come.

1

Er ließ sich nicht beirren.

He did not let himself be deterred.

2

Man hört die Glocken läuten.

One hears the bells ringing.

3

Sie gehen heute Abend tanzen.

They are going dancing tonight.

4

Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden.

I am getting my hair cut.

1

Er wusste sich zu helfen, doch ließ er es geschehen.

He knew how to help himself, yet he let it happen.

2

Man sah die Sonne hinter den Bergen untergehen.

One saw the sun setting behind the mountains.

3

Sie ließ den Gedanken reifen.

She let the thought ripen.

4

Er hörte das ferne Donnern grollen.

He heard the distant thunder rumbling.

Easily Confused

Infinitive without 'zu' (Infinitiv ohne zu) vs Infinitiv mit zu

Learners mix up when to use 'zu' and when to omit it.

Infinitive without 'zu' (Infinitiv ohne zu) vs Subordinate clauses

Learners forget the verb-final rule in subordinate clauses.

Infinitive without 'zu' (Infinitiv ohne zu) vs Perfect tense

Learners use the wrong auxiliary verb.

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich kann zu schwimmen.

✓

Ich kann schwimmen.

Modals never take 'zu'.
✗

Ich will zu gehen.

✓

Ich will gehen.

No 'zu' with 'wollen'.
✗

Ich muss zu lernen.

✓

Ich muss lernen.

No 'zu' with 'müssen'.
✗

Ich darf zu spielen.

✓

Ich darf spielen.

No 'zu' with 'dürfen'.
✗

Ich gehe zu einkaufen.

✓

Ich gehe einkaufen.

Motion verbs don't take 'zu'.
✗

Ich sehe ihn zu kommen.

✓

Ich sehe ihn kommen.

Perception verbs don't take 'zu'.
✗

Wir fahren zu schwimmen.

✓

Wir fahren schwimmen.

No 'zu' with 'fahren'.
✗

Ich höre das Radio zu spielen.

✓

Ich höre das Radio spielen.

No 'zu' with 'hören'.
✗

Er lässt das Auto zu reparieren.

✓

Er lässt das Auto reparieren.

No 'zu' with 'lassen'.
✗

Sie lernt zu Klavier spielen.

✓

Sie lernt Klavier spielen.

No 'zu' with 'lernen'.
✗

Man kann das nicht einfach zu geschehen lassen.

✓

Man kann das nicht einfach geschehen lassen.

No 'zu' with 'lassen'.
✗

Er sah sie zu gehen.

✓

Er sah sie gehen.

No 'zu' with 'sehen'.
✗

Sie ließ sich zu beirren.

✓

Sie ließ sich beirren.

No 'zu' with 'lassen'.

Sentence Patterns

Ich kann ___.

Ich sehe ihn ___.

Wir gehen ___.

Er lässt das Auto ___.

Real World Usage

Ordering food very common

Ich möchte eine Pizza essen.

Social media common

Ich gehe heute feiern!

Job interview common

Ich kann gut im Team arbeiten.

Travel common

Wir wollen morgen nach Berlin fahren.

Texting very common

Kannst du später kommen?

Food delivery app common

Ich möchte bestellen.

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💡

The Modal Rule

If you see a modal verb, your brain should automatically block the word 'zu'.
⚠️

Don't over-apply

Only use this for modals, perception, and motion verbs. Most other verbs need 'zu'.
🎯

Word Order

Always push the infinitive to the very end of the sentence.
💬

Natural Sounding

Using this construction makes you sound like a native speaker immediately.

Smart Tips

Check if the first is a modal or perception verb.

Ich kann zu gehen. → Ich kann gehen.

Always put the infinitive at the very end.

Ich sehe kommen ihn. → Ich sehe ihn kommen.

Remember it's a bare infinitive verb.

Ich lasse zu reparieren das Auto. → Ich lasse das Auto reparieren.

Treat 'gehen' and 'fahren' like modals.

Wir fahren zu schwimmen. → Wir fahren schwimmen.

Pronunciation

Ich kann SCHWIM-men.

Infinitive stress

The infinitive at the end of the sentence usually carries a slight stress.

Falling intonation

Ich kann schwimmen. ↘

Declarative statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Modals and Senses are 'Bare' friends—they don't need 'zu' to hang out.

Visual Association

Imagine a 'zu' particle as a heavy backpack. Modal verbs are too cool to carry it, so they drop it at the door.

Rhyme

Modals, motion, and things you hear, keep the 'zu' away from here!

Story

I wanted to go (gehen) to the park. I could (können) see the birds fly (fliegen). I heard the music play (spielen). No 'zu' was invited to this party.

Word Web

könnenmüssensehenhörengehenfahrenwollen

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using only modal verbs and motion verbs without 'zu'.

Cultural Notes

Germans value efficiency in speech; dropping 'zu' is part of that.

Austrians often use 'gehen' + infinitive more frequently in casual speech.

Swiss German speakers often omit 'zu' even in cases where High German might use it.

The bare infinitive stems from the Germanic auxiliary system where modals were originally full verbs that evolved into markers of mood.

Conversation Starters

“

Was kannst du gut machen?

“

Wen siehst du gerade kommen?

“

Was lässt du dir gerne machen?

“

Was würdest du gerne geschehen lassen?

Journal Prompts

Write about your weekend plans using 'wollen' and 'gehen'.
Describe a busy street scene using 'sehen' and 'hören'.
Reflect on a skill you are learning using 'lernen' and 'können'.
Discuss the impact of technology on how we 'let' things happen.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form.

Ich kann gut ___ (schwimmen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schwimmen
Modals take the bare infinitive.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich will gehen.
No 'zu' with 'wollen'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich sehe ihn zu kommen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich sehe ihn kommen.
Perception verbs take bare infinitive.
Transform to modal. Sentence Transformation

Ich schwimme. (Use 'können')

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich kann schwimmen.
Correct modal construction.
Is this true? True False Rule

All verbs in German require 'zu' for infinitives.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Modals and perception verbs do not.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Gehst du heute Abend ___? B: Ja, ich gehe tanzen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tanzen
Motion verb 'gehen' takes bare infinitive.
Order the words. Sentence Building

kann / ich / nicht / schlafen

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich kann nicht schlafen.
Correct word order.
Match the verb to its category. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Modal
Können is a modal verb.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form.

Ich kann gut ___ (schwimmen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: schwimmen
Modals take the bare infinitive.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich will gehen.
No 'zu' with 'wollen'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich sehe ihn zu kommen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich sehe ihn kommen.
Perception verbs take bare infinitive.
Transform to modal. Sentence Transformation

Ich schwimme. (Use 'können')

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich kann schwimmen.
Correct modal construction.
Is this true? True False Rule

All verbs in German require 'zu' for infinitives.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Modals and perception verbs do not.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Gehst du heute Abend ___? B: Ja, ich gehe tanzen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tanzen
Motion verb 'gehen' takes bare infinitive.
Order the words. Sentence Building

kann / ich / nicht / schlafen

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich kann nicht schlafen.
Correct word order.
Match the verb to its category. Match Pairs

können

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Modal
Können is a modal verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

8 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Lass uns heute Abend Pizza ___ (bestellen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bestellen
Correct the perfect tense form. Error Correction

Ich habe ihn auf der Straße rennen gesehen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich habe ihn auf der Straße rennen sehen.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

höre / ich / singen / meine / Schwester / oft / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich höre meine Schwester oft singen.
Translate into German. Translation

I'll help you clean the apartment.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
Which one is right? Multiple Choice

Sie bleibt an der Ampel ___ .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: stehen
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Wir fahren am Samstag Ski ___ (laufen).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: laufen
Match the verb with its function regarding 'zu'. Match Pairs

Match the categories:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: können : Never uses zu
Find the mistake. Error Correction

Er lernt seit drei Jahren Geige zu spielen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er lernt seit drei Jahren Geige spielen.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Because it lacks the 'zu' particle, leaving the verb 'bare'.

Yes, all six modal verbs (können, müssen, sollen, dürfen, wollen, mögen) use this.

Yes, 'lassen' also takes the bare infinitive.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

The rule remains the same, but the auxiliary verb changes.

The object goes between the conjugated verb and the infinitive.

It's one of the easier syntax rules once you memorize the verb list.

No, the list of verbs is fixed.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Verbos modales + infinitivo

Spanish doesn't have the same strict word-order rules for the infinitive.

French high

Verbes modaux + infinitif

French uses 'à' or 'de' for other verbs, similar to German 'zu'.

Japanese moderate

Auxiliary verbs

Japanese is agglutinative, while German uses separate words.

Arabic low

Verbal sentences

Arabic relies heavily on verb conjugation rather than infinitive constructions.

Chinese moderate

Modal verbs

Chinese verbs do not conjugate, making it simpler than German.

English high

Modal + bare infinitive

English uses 'to' for almost all other verbs, whereas German has specific categories.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
German Infinitive with 'zu' (Infinitiv mit zu)

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