In German, um...zu and zu + Infinitiv are two similar structures. Learners of German often confuse these two structures. So how can we tell them apart? In today's article, we will find out together!!!

1. zu + Infinitiv

- Does not express a specific purpose; used to tell, to express, or to give an emotional judgment, ...

- Signs for recognizing zu + infinitiv (the infinitive verb):

+ After certain verbs expressing wishes, thoughts, plans, feelings, or the beginning or end of an action (anfangen, aufhören, sich entscheiden, planen, vergessen, versuchen, vorhaben, vorschlagen…). Example:

Ich habe vergessen, die Hausaufgaben zu machen.

(I forgot to do my homework.)

→ It simply tells about the fact of forgetting to do homework, without expressing a clear purpose.

+ After adjective phrases: sein/finden + Adjektiven (anstrengend, gut, interessant, langweilig, schön, spannend, wichtig…)

Es ist langweilig, den ganzen Tag am Strand zu sein.

(It is boring to be on the beach all day.)

→ It only gives an emotional judgment and does not state any specific purpose.

+ After noun phrases: haben/machen + Nomen (Lust, Zeit haben, Spaß …)

Ich habe keine Zeit, ins Reisebüro zu gehen.

(I have no time to go to the travel agency.)

→ It expresses a complaint and does not state any specific purpose.

!!!! Note: structures that go with an infinitive but without zu:

+ Modal verbs: müssen, sollen, möchten, dürfen, wollen, können.

+ Special verbs: “bleiben”, “lassen”

+ Verbs of perception: “sehen”, “hören”,...

+ Sentence structures with the auxiliary werden: Futur I, Konjunktiv II

2. um …zu

- Used to express a purpose, answering the question Wozu? or Wofür?. To use um…zu, the subject of the main clause must be the same as the subject in the um…zu structure. For example:

Wozu lernst du Deutsch? (What do you learn German for?)

Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland studieren zu können. (I learn German in order to be able to study in Germany.)

→ My purpose for learning German is to be able to study in Germany. The um….zu structure expresses a clear, specific purpose.

- The subject in the um…zu structure can be omitted:

Ich arbeite so viel, um ich die Rechnung bezahlen zu können.

= Ich arbeite so viel, um die Rechnungen bezahlen zu können.