"zu + Infinitiv" is a common structure used to express purpose, desire, or an action connected to the main verb.
"um... zu" is a more explicit variant, used to emphasize the purpose of an action.
In addition, there are some special verbs that go with the infinitive (Infinitiv) without "zu".

1. Why do we have “zu” and “um... zu”?

📌 In German, when you want to connect two verbs in the same sentence (especially when the second verb is in the infinitive - Infinitiv), we usually use “zu” before the infinitive verb.

Example:

Ich habe vergessen, das Licht auszumachen.
(I forgot to turn off the light.)

Why not just use 2 verbs like in English?

👉 Because German needs a clear structure to keep proper word order and grammar. When there is no Modalverb (like _können, müssen..._), we need to use “zu + Infinitiv”.

2. When do we use “um... zu”?

🎯 Meaning

Used to express purpose – action A is carried out in order to achieve goal B.

🧠 Structure

ℹ️ Formula

Formula

Hauptsatz, um ... zu + Infinitiv.

"um" begins the subordinate clause → indicates purpose
"zu" goes with the infinitive verb, usually placed at the end of the subordinate clause

Example:

Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.
(I'm learning German in order to study at university in Germany.)

Er spart Geld, um ein neues Auto zu kaufen.
(He's saving money in order to buy a new car.)

ℹ️ Note

Note

The subject of the main clause and the subordinate clause must be the same when using “um… zu”.
If they are different, you must use the conjunction damit instead.

3. When do we use “zu + Infinitiv” without “um”?

🎯 Meaning

Used when the action does not necessarily carry the meaning of purpose, but rather:

After certain special verbs
After certain adjectives / nouns
To express emotion, ability, plans…

ℹ️ Remember

Remember

To put it simply: you want to use 2 verbs, and one verb directly adds meaning to the other → use “zu”.

✅ Some verbs that go with “zu + Infinitiv”

Verb	Meaning
anfangen / beginnen	to begin
versuchen	to try
vergessen	to forget
hoffen	to hope
planen	to plan
aufhören	to stop

Example:

Ich habe angefangen, Deutsch zu lernen.
(I have started learning German.)

Er vergisst oft, die Tür abzuschließen.
(He often forgets to lock the door.)

✅ Adjectives that go with “zu + Infinitiv”

📌 When an adjective describes how easy/difficult, important, necessary… something is, it is usually followed by “zu + infinitive verb”.

ℹ️ Structure

Structure

Es ist + adjective + , zu + Infinitiv.

Adjective	Example	Meaning
einfach (easy)	Es ist einfach, Deutsch zu lernen.	Learning German is easy.
schwer (hard)	Es ist schwer, früh aufzustehen.	Getting up early is hard.
wichtig (important)	Es ist wichtig, regelmäßig zu üben.	Practicing regularly is important.
möglich (possible)	Es ist möglich, das Problem zu lösen.	It's possible to solve the problem.
erlaubt (allowed)	Es ist erlaubt, hier zu parken.	It's allowed to park here.
verboten (forbidden)	Es ist verboten, hier zu rauchen.	Smoking is forbidden here.
nötig / notwendig (necessary)	Es ist nötig, mehr zu lernen.	It's necessary to study more.
gefährlich (dangerous)	Es ist gefährlich, nachts allein zu gehen.	Walking alone at night is dangerous.
angenehm (pleasant)	Es ist angenehm, draußen zu sitzen.	Sitting outside is pleasant.
langweilig (boring)	Es ist langweilig, allein zu reisen.	Traveling alone is boring.

4. When do we use 2 verbs without “zu”?

👉 When the main verb is a Modalverb or one of certain special verbs like lassen, sehen, hören, gehen.

Verb	Example
können / müssen / sollen / wollen...	Ich muss arbeiten.
lassen	Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren.
sehen / hören	Ich höre ihn singen.
gehen (mit Infinitiv)	Ich gehe einkaufen.

5. Comparing "um... zu" and "zu + Infinitiv"

ℹ️ Easily confused examples

Easily confused examples

Er vergisst oft, die Tür abzuschließen. ✅
Er vergisst oft, um die Tür abzuschließen. ❌

👉 Because "um... zu" is only used to express the purpose of an action.
In the sentence above: forgetting to lock the door → this is just the content of the action of "vergessen", not the purpose.

✅ In short

Structure	Use when	Example
zu + Infinitiv	After verbs like vergessen, anfangen, versuchen…	Er vergisst, die Tür abzuschließen.
um… zu + Infinitiv	When talking about purpose	Ich stehe früh auf, um pünktlich zu sein.

🎯 Further comparison

Sentence	Meaning	Type
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.	Learning German in order to study abroad → has a purpose	um… zu
Ich vergesse, mein Handy mitzunehmen.	I forget to bring my phone → no purpose	zu

🎯 6. Summary

ℹ️ Remember

Remember

“zu + Infinitiv”: used after verbs, adjectives, nouns.
“um… zu”: emphasizes purpose, and only when the subject is the same.
No “zu”: with Modalverben and special verbs (lassen, sehen, hören, gehen).
The infinitive verb with zu always comes at the end of the subordinate clause.

ℹ️ Exercise

Practice exercise

Apply what you've just learned:

📝 B1 exercise overview

Practice B1 grammar structures through detailed exercises.

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