German · B1 · Everyday language
Plans that need a second verb in German
Use versuchen, planen, hoffen and vergessen with a zu-infinitive to say what you are trying, planning or hoping to do, or what you forgot to do.
What you'll learn
- Describe intentions, hopes and attempts with a dependent zu-infinitive.
- Ask whether someone forgot to do something.
- Put zu in the correct position with ordinary and separable verbs.
- Distinguish these complements from purpose and omission clauses.
German phrases for plans that need a second verb
Ich versuche, langsamer zu sprechen.
I am trying to speak more slowly.
Versuchen introduces the attempted action: langsamer zu sprechen.
Wir planen, etwas länger zu bleiben.
We are planning to stay a little longer.
Planen introduces the intended action, with zu bleiben at the end.
Ich hoffe, bis Donnerstag fertig zu werden.
I hope to finish by Thursday.
Fertig werden means to finish or be done; zu goes before werden.
Hast du vergessen, die Nummer aufzuschreiben?
Did you forget to write down the number?
Aufschreiben is separable: auf + zu + schreiben becomes aufzuschreiben.
Sie versucht, einen ruhigeren Sitzplatz zu finden.
She is trying to find a quieter seat.
The action she is trying to carry out ends with zu finden.
Wir hoffen, dich bald wiederzusehen.
We hope to see you again soon.
Wiedersehen becomes wiederzusehen. Dich addresses one person informally.
Ich plane, jeden Nachmittag zu üben.
I am planning to practise every afternoon.
The time expression comes before zu üben.
Bitte versuch, die Tür leise zu schließen.
Please try to close the door quietly.
The request with versuch also takes a dependent zu-infinitive.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
versuchen
to try
Use versuchen, ... zu ... to name the action being attempted.
planen
to plan
Use planen, ... zu ... to describe an intended action.
hoffen
to hope
Use hoffen, ... zu ... for something the subject hopes to do.
vergessen
to forget
Use vergessen, ... zu ... for forgetting to carry out an action.
aufschreiben
to write down
Separable verb; zu-infinitive: aufzuschreiben.
wiedersehen
to see again
Separable verb; zu-infinitive: wiederzusehen.
der Sitzplatz
seat; place to sit
Plural: die Sitzplätze.
die Nummer
number
Plural: die Nummern.
die Tür
door
Plural: die Türen.
der Nachmittag
afternoon
Plural: die Nachmittage.
der Donnerstag
Thursday
Plural: die Donnerstage. Bis Donnerstag means by Thursday.
A second action with zu
After versuchen, planen, hoffen and vergessen, an infinitive clause names the action attempted, planned, hoped for or forgotten. In this pattern, the person doing that action is the subject of the main clause; do not repeat the subject. Put the zu-infinitive at the end of its clause and separate the clauses with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Attempt | versuchen, ... zu + infinitive | Ich versuche, langsamer zu sprechen. |
| Plan | planen, ... zu + infinitive | Wir planen, etwas länger zu bleiben. |
| Hope | hoffen, ... zu + infinitive | Ich hoffe, bis Donnerstag fertig zu werden. |
| Forgotten action | vergessen, ... zu + infinitive | Hast du vergessen, die Tür zu schließen? |
Where zu goes
With an ordinary verb, write zu as a separate word before the infinitive. With a separable verb, insert zu between the prefix and the verb stem and write the result as one word. Not every verb beginning with a prefix is separable: versuchen and vergessen themselves are not.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary verb | sprechen → zu sprechen | Ich versuche, leise zu sprechen. |
| Separable verb | aufschreiben → aufzuschreiben | Ich versuche, die Nummer aufzuschreiben. |
| Separable verb | wiedersehen → wiederzusehen | Wir hoffen, dich bald wiederzusehen. |
Complement, not purpose or omission
These clauses answer 'What are you trying, planning or hoping to do?' or 'What did you forget to do?' Use zu without um or ohne. Um ... zu expresses purpose, while ohne ... zu expresses an action not carried out alongside another action; neither replaces this complement.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| What is planned? | planen, ... zu ... | Ich plane, jeden Nachmittag zu üben. |
| What was forgotten? | vergessen, ... zu ... | Ich habe vergessen, die Nummer aufzuschreiben. |
More examples
Wir versuchen, die Kinder nicht zu wecken.
We are trying not to wake the children.
Nicht zu wecken names the action you are trying to avoid.
Ich plane, morgen früher aufzustehen.
I am planning to get up earlier tomorrow.
Aufstehen is separable: auf + zu + stehen.
Wir hoffen, bald einen ruhigeren Sitzplatz zu finden.
We hope to find a quieter seat soon.
Wir is also the understood subject of zu finden.
Hast du vergessen, dein Buch einzupacken?
Did you forget to pack your book?
Einpacken becomes einzupacken.