Infinitivsätze

Infinitivsätze: um…zu oder zu? Oder gar nichts?

  • um…zu: if you could say “in order to” in English
  • zu: if you would say “to” in English, but you could not say “in order to”
  • gar nichts: mit Modalverben: I have to = Ich muss + Infinitiv; I want to = Ich will + Infinitiv; I would like to = Ich möchte + Infinitiv
  • kompliziert: “too (zu) + to” or “enough (genug) + to”: In such sentences, the “in order to” test does not work well. Standard usage requires um…zu in such cases, but often (not always) zu is also acceptable, especially in informal speech and writing
    • I’m too old to understand this: Ich bin zu alt, um das zu verstehen
    • I’m old enough to understand this: Ich bin alt genug, um das zu verstehen
  • Auf Deutsch:
    • I don’t have time to repair my touchscreen [der Touchscreen]
    • I ask [use bitten] my sister to repair my touchscreen
    • I have to repair my touchscreen
    • You [use man] need tools to repair a touchscreen
    • I buy tools [Werkzeuge] to repair my touchscreen
    • I try [use versuchen] to repair my touchscreen
    • I forgot to repair my touchscreen
    • I go to North Campus to repair my touchscreen
    • Please help me repair my touchscreen!
    • Santa Claus is coming to town to repair my touchscreen
    • I’m too old to repair my touchscreen myself [use selbst]
    • It’s not broken enough to repair it.
    • Trickfrage: I read online about [anticipatory da-compound!] how to repair a touchscreen