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.
你将学到什么
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!
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不带 'zu' 的不定式 (Infinitiv ohne zu)有些动词，像«情态动词»、«感知动词»和«移动动词»，它们和不定式一起用时，会«跳过zu»，而且不定式必须放在句末哦！
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德语 zu 不定式详解 (Infinitiv mit zu)有了不定式加‘zu’，你的句子会更流畅，把两个动作无缝连接起来，还不用重复主语。记住，动词总是在句末等你哦！
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提前占位：带不定式从句的先行词 'es'把
es当成一个“先头部队”，用来引出后面长长的不定式行动，让你的 B2 德语听起来既平衡又地道。看，就这么简单！ -
使用 'beim' 表达同时发生的动作 (动词名词化)Turn any verb into a neuter noun with
beimto express simultaneous actions quickly and naturally. -
德语形容词性名词：人与物 ({der|m} Bekannte, {das|n} Neue)形容词作名词，就是把形容词“升级”成名词。它们永远需要“大写”，而且会根据“性”、“格”和“冠词”来变化“词尾”。
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: convert subordinate clauses into concise infinitive or nominal phrases.
章节指南
Overview
How This Grammar Works
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.)Dich zu sehen ist schön.
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.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong:
Ich versuche, das verstehen.
Ich versuche, das zu verstehen.(I try to understand that.)
zu before the infinitive. Many verbs in German require Infinitiv mit zu when followed by another verb.- 1✗ Wrong:
Während ich koche, höre ich Musik.
(When a simpler, more concise option exists for simultaneous actions by the same subject)
Beim Kochen höre ich Musik.(While cooking, I listen to music.)
- 1✗ Wrong:
Die neuen Sachen sind interessant.
(Referring to new things in general)
Das Neue ist interessant.(The new thing/what's new is interesting.)
things derived from adjectives, das + capitalized adjective is often used. This is a common way to form adjectival nouns for concepts.
Real Conversations
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Quick FAQ
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').
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.
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
关键例句 (8)
Ich habe mir beim Kochen in den Finger geschnitten.
I cut my finger while cooking.
使用 'beim' 表达同时发生的动作 (动词名词化)技巧与窍门 (4)
直达快捷方式
lernen或helfen一起），你几乎总是可以省略zu。这样听起来更像母语者！Ich lerne schwimmen.可分动词三明治法则
Er versucht, aufzuhören.
消失的“es”
Zu lernen ist wichtig.
Capitalization
核心词汇 (5)
Real-World Preview
Business Networking
Review Summary
- Modal + Infinitive
- zu + Infinitive
- Es + verb + ... + zu + Infinitive
- beim + nominalized verb
- Article + capitalized adjective
常见错误
Always use a comma before the infinitive group to ensure readability.
Use the nominalized verb form, not a conjugated verb after 'beim'.
Adjectival nouns must be capitalized.
本章规则 (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.
快速练习 (10)
Find and fix the mistake:
Du musst nicht zu weinen, alles wird gut.
müssen后面跟着不定式时，绝不带zu。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不带 'zu' 的不定式 (Infinitiv ohne zu)
Ich treffe heute ___ im Park.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语形容词性名词：人与物 ({der|m} Bekannte, {das|n} Neue)
___ (essen) lese ich.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 使用 'beim' 表达同时发生的动作 (动词名词化)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 使用 'beim' 表达同时发生的动作 (动词名词化)
Find and fix the mistake:
Es ist schön, dich sehen zu.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语 zu 不定式详解 (Infinitiv mit zu)
Find and fix the mistake:
Die Wichtig ist die Gesundheit.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语形容词性名词：人与物 ({der|m} Bekannte, {das|n} Neue)
Find and fix the mistake:
Beim arbeiten ich trinke Kaffee.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 使用 'beim' 表达同时发生的动作 (动词名词化)
Ich versuche, morgen früher ___ (aufstehen).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语 zu 不定式详解 (Infinitiv mit zu)
选择正确选项：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 德语 zu 不定式详解 (Infinitiv mit zu)
Ich sehe meine {die|f} {Nachbarin|f} jeden Tag ihr {das|n} {Auto|n} ___ (waschen).
sehen在句末使用不带zu的原形动词。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 不带 'zu' 的不定式 (Infinitiv ohne zu)
Score: /10
常见问题 (6)
zu这样的连接词。Ich muss gehen.gehen这样的移动动词，当表达意图时，功能类似于情态动词。你只需要说Ich gehe einkaufen.就好啦！Es ist wichtig, ...Zu tanzen es ist toll是错误的。你必须说
Zu tanzen ist toll或者
Es ist toll, zu tanzen.
