Infinitive – Free Exercise

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Exercises

Decide whether the infinitive is used with or without zu.

  1. Sie lässt mich immer .[She always keeps me waiting.]|lassen → infinitive without zu
  2. Mein Großvater pflegte Pfeife .[My grandfather used to smoke a pipe.]|pflegen meaning do regulary → infinitive with zu
  3. Diese Übung scheint sehr einfach .[This exercise seems to be very easy.]|scheinen meaning give an impression → infinitive with zu
  4. Gehst du mit uns zusammen ?[Are you going shopping with us?]|gehen is a verb of movement → infinitive without zu
  5. Mit dir habe ich noch ein Hühnchen .[I have a bone to pick with you.]|haben meaning have to → infinitive mit zu
  6. Er hat die Katze auf seinem Schoß .[He has the cat on his lap.]|haben with location (on his lap)→ infinitive without zu
  7. Wir bleiben im alten Haus .[We will continue to live in the old house.]|bleiben meaning remain in a specific state → infinitive without zu
  8. Du brauchst morgen nicht .[You needn’t come tomorrow.]|brauchen meaning need not → infinitive with zu
  9. Julia neigt dazu, etwas .[Julia tends to exaggerate a little.]|most verbs (like neigen) are used with the infinitive with zu|The infinitive clause is not the subject → infinitive with zu
  10. Er spürte sein Herz schneller .[He felt his heart beating faster.]|spüren is a verb of the senses → infinitive without zu

Complete the sentences using the infinitive with or without zu.

  1. Möchtest du es noch einmal (versuchen)  ?[Would you like to try again?]|möchten = modal verb → infinitive without zu
  2. Deine Eltern brauchen nicht (mitkommen)  .[You're parents needn’t come.]|brauchen (= need) → infinitive with zu|For verbs with a separable prefix, we put zu between the prefix and the verb.
  3. Du weißt mich immer (überzeugen)  .[You are always able to convince me.]|wissen (= be able) → infinitiv with zu|Inseparable verb → zu before the verb
  4. Das Auto bleibt wieder (stecken)  .[The car remains stuck again.]|bleiben (= remain in a specific state) → infinitive without zu
  5. Wir bitten euch, die Schuhe (ausziehen)  .[We request that you take off your shoes.]|infinitive clause → infinitive with zu|For verbs with a separable prefix, we put zu between the prefix and the verb.

Decide whether the infinitive clauses with zu are correct or incorrect.

  1. Wir laden euch ein, mit uns zu feiern.[We invite you to celebrate with us.]|The infinitive clause is not the the subject (Who invites? – We do). → only the infinitive with zu is possible.
  2. Sie wagt es, mir widersprechen.[She dares to contradict me.]|The infinitive clause is not the subject (Who dares? – She does). → only the infinitive with zu is possible|The correct sentence would be: Sie wagt es, mir zu widersprechen.
  3. Den ganzen Tag wandern macht hungrig.[Hiking all day makes you hungry.]|The infinitive clause is the subject (What makes us hungry? – Hiking all day).→ The infinitive can also be used without zu.
  4. Er verspricht, im Unterricht zu aufpassen.[He promises to pay attention in class.]|The infinitive clause is not the subject (Who promises? – He does). → only the infinitive with zu is possible|aufpassen is a separable verb → The correct sentence would be: …im Unterricht aufzupassen
  5. Die Lösung zu finden ist kompliziert.[Finding the solution is complicated.]|The infinitive clause is the subject (What is complicated? – Finding a solution). → The infinitive can be used with or without zu