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 |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]beabsichtigen[/responsivevoice] | to intend |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]behaupten[/responsivevoice] | to claim / assert |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]beschließen[/responsivevoice] | to decide |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]dazu beitragen[/responsivevoice] | to contribute |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]dazu neigen[/responsivevoice] | to incline |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]dazu tendieren[/responsivevoice] | to tend |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]drohen[/responsivevoice] | to threaten |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]geloben[/responsivevoice] | to pledge |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]glauben[/responsivevoice] | to believe |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]hoffen[/responsivevoice] | to hope |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]jdm. anbieten[/responsivevoice] | to offer (to someone) |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]lernen[/responsivevoice] | to learn |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]planen[/responsivevoice] | to plan |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]schwören[/responsivevoice] | to swear / vow |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]vereinbaren[/responsivevoice] | to agree |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]vorhaben[/responsivevoice] | to intend / plan |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]vergessen[/responsivevoice] | to forget |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]versäumen[/responsivevoice] | to omit / miss |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]versprechen[/responsivevoice] | to promise |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]versuchen[/responsivevoice] | to try |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]vortäuschen[/responsivevoice] | to pretend |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]vorziehen[/responsivevoice] | to prefer |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]zögern[/responsivevoice] | 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 |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich bereit erklären[/responsivevoice] | to agree / consent |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich daranmachen[/responsivevoice] | to proceed / begin |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich entscheiden[/responsivevoice] | to decide |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich erinnern[/responsivevoice] | to remember |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich leisten + Dat.[/responsivevoice] | to afford |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich sehnen[/responsivevoice] | to crave |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich trauen[/responsivevoice] | to dare |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich verpflichten[/responsivevoice] | to commit oneself |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich wagen[/responsivevoice] | to dare |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sich weigern[/responsivevoice] | 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 |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]bemüht[/responsivevoice] | willing |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]bestrebt[/responsivevoice] | anxious |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]beunruhigt[/responsivevoice] | worried |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]entschlossen[/responsivevoice] | determined |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]enttäuscht[/responsivevoice] | disappointed |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]erfreut[/responsivevoice] | pleased / delighted |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]erleichtert[/responsivevoice] | relieved |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]froh[/responsivevoice] | glad |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]traurig[/responsivevoice] | sad |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]überrascht[/responsivevoice] | surprised |
Example:- Wir sind erfreut, das zu hören. (We are pleased to hear that.)
List of Noun Phrases that Require Infinitive Clauses
| German | English |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Absicht haben[/responsivevoice] | to have the intention |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]das Angebot machen / annehmen[/responsivevoice] | to make / accept an offer |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]in Betracht ziehen[/responsivevoice] | to consider / contemplate |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Drohung aussprechen[/responsivevoice] | to utter a threat |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Entscheidung treffen[/responsivevoice] | to come to a decision |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]den Entschluss fassen[/responsivevoice] | to come to a conclusion |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Hoffnung haben[/responsivevoice] | to have the hope |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Neigung haben[/responsivevoice] | to have the inclination |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Notwendigkeit sehen[/responsivevoice] | to see the need |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]die Vereinbarung treffen[/responsivevoice] | to reach an agreement |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]das Versprechen geben[/responsivevoice] | to make a promise |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]den Versuch unternehmen[/responsivevoice] | 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 |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]bitten[/responsivevoice] | to ask / request |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]dazu bringen[/responsivevoice] | to persuade |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]einladen[/responsivevoice] | to invite |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]ermutigen[/responsivevoice] | to encourage |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]erinnern[/responsivevoice] | to remind |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]lehren[/responsivevoice] | to teach |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]überreden[/responsivevoice] | to persuade / coax |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]überzeugen[/responsivevoice] | to convince |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]veranlassen[/responsivevoice] | to prompt / induce |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]warnen[/responsivevoice] | to warn |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]zwingen[/responsivevoice] | 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 |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]befehlen[/responsivevoice] | to order |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]beibringen[/responsivevoice] | to teach |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]empfehlen[/responsivevoice] | to recommend |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]ermöglichen[/responsivevoice] | to enable |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]erlauben[/responsivevoice] | to allow |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]gelingen[/responsivevoice] | to succeed |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]gestatten[/responsivevoice] | to permit |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]helfen[/responsivevoice] | to help |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]leichtfallen[/responsivevoice] | to be easy |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]raten[/responsivevoice] | to advise |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]verbieten[/responsivevoice] | 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 |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]egoistisch[/responsivevoice] | egoistical |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]gerecht[/responsivevoice] | fair / just |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]klug[/responsivevoice] | smart / clever |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]kompliziert[/responsivevoice] | complicated |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]leicht[/responsivevoice] | easy |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]mutig[/responsivevoice] | brave |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]schwierig[/responsivevoice] | difficult |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]sinnlos[/responsivevoice] | pointless / senseless |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]traurig[/responsivevoice] | sad |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]unangenehm[/responsivevoice] | unpleasant |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]unhöflich[/responsivevoice] | impolite |
| [responsivevoice voice=”Deutsch Female” rate=”0.8″ buttontext=”►”]unmöglich[/responsivevoice] | impossible |
Example:- Es ist sinnlos, sich jetzt den Krimi anzusehen. (It is pointless to watch the thriller now.)
You are good now in German.
