Verbs and Phrases that Require Infinitive Clauses
Infinitive clauses in German can refer to either the subject or object of the main clause. But what are impersonal phrases? Keep studying this lesson to find out the answer!
Here’s a list of all the words and phrases after which German infinitive clauses can be used.
Infinitive Clauses Referring to the Subject
List of Verbs that Require Infinitive Clauses
German | English |
beabsichtigen | to intend |
behaupten | to claim / assert |
beschließen | to decide |
dazu beitragen | to contribute |
dazu neigen | to incline |
dazu tendieren | to tend |
drohen | to threaten |
geloben | to pledge |
glauben | to believe |
hoffen | to hope |
jdm. anbieten | to offer (to someone) |
lernen | to learn |
planen | to plan |
schwören | to swear / vow |
vereinbaren | to agree |
vorhaben | to intend / plan |
vergessen | to forget |
versäumen | to omit / miss |
versprechen | to promise |
versuchen | to try |
vortäuschen | to pretend |
vorziehen | to prefer |
zögern | to hesitate |
Example:- Sie hofft, ihre Freunde bald zu treffen. (She hopes to meet her friends soon.)
List of Reflexive Verbs that Require Infinitive Clauses
German | English |
sich bereit erklären | to agree / consent |
sich daranmachen | to proceed / begin |
sich entscheiden | to decide |
sich erinnern | to remember |
sich leisten + Dat. | to afford |
sich sehnen | to crave |
sich trauen | to dare |
sich verpflichten | to commit oneself |
sich wagen | to dare |
sich weigern | to refuse |
Example:- Ich kann es mir nicht leisten, dieses Haus zu kaufen. (I cannot afford to buy this house.)
List of Adjectives that Require Infinitive Clauses
German | English |
bemüht | willing |
bestrebt | anxious |
beunruhigt | worried |
entschlossen | determined |
enttäuscht | disappointed |
erfreut | pleased / delighted |
erleichtert | relieved |
froh | glad |
traurig | sad |
überrascht | surprised |
Example:- Wir sind erfreut, das zu hören. (We are pleased to hear that.)
List of Noun Phrases that Require Infinitive Clauses
German | English |
die Absicht haben | to have the intention |
das Angebot machen / annehmen | to make / accept an offer |
in Betracht ziehen | to consider / contemplate |
die Drohung aussprechen | to utter a threat |
die Entscheidung treffen | to come to a decision |
den Entschluss fassen | to come to a conclusion |
die Hoffnung haben | to have the hope |
die Neigung haben | to have the inclination |
die Notwendigkeit sehen | to see the need |
die Vereinbarung treffen | to reach an agreement |
das Versprechen geben | to make a promise |
den Versuch unternehmen | to make an attempt |
Example:- Wir haben die Entscheidung getroffen, ab jetzt auf Deutsch zu sprechen. (We have reached the decision to speak in German henceforth.)
Infinitive Clauses Referring to the Object
List of Accusative Verbs that Require Infinitive Clauses
German | English |
bitten | to ask / request |
dazu bringen | to persuade |
einladen | to invite |
ermutigen | to encourage |
erinnern | to remind |
lehren | to teach |
überreden | to persuade / coax |
überzeugen | to convince |
veranlassen | to prompt / induce |
warnen | to warn |
zwingen | to force |
Example:- Max ermutigt seinen Sohn, eine neue Sprache zu lernen. (Max is encouraging his son to learn a new language.)
List of Dative Verbs that Require Infinitive Clauses
German | English |
befehlen | to order |
beibringen | to teach |
empfehlen | to recommend |
ermöglichen | to enable |
erlauben | to allow |
gelingen | to succeed |
gestatten | to permit |
helfen | to help |
leichtfallen | to be easy |
raten | to advise |
verbieten | to forbid / prohibit |
Example:- Sie empfiehlt mir, diese Körperlotion zu verwenden. (She recommends me to use this body lotion.)
Infinitive Clauses Referring to an Impersonal Form
Impersonal words are those that are used with the impersonal pronoun “es“. The pronoun “es” acts as the subject of the sentence. We usually use the following adjectives with es.
German | English |
egoistisch | egoistical |
gerecht | fair / just |
klug | smart / clever |
kompliziert | complicated |
leicht | easy |
mutig | brave |
schwierig | difficult |
sinnlos | pointless / senseless |
traurig | sad |
unangenehm | unpleasant |
unhöflich | impolite |
unmöglich | impossible |
Example:- Es ist sinnlos, sich jetzt den Krimi anzusehen. (It is pointless to watch the thriller now.)
You are good now in German.