Infinitive clauses with um…zu, ohne…zu and (an)statt…zu
How to build German infinitive clauses with zu — including the three connectors um…zu (purpose), ohne…zu (without doing) and (an)statt…zu (instead of), plus where zu lands with separable verbs.
German has a special kind of subordinate clause built around zu + infinitive. Instead of a conjugated verb, you use the basic verb form preceded by zu, and this whole block goes to the very end of its clause: Ich versuche, früh aufzustehen.
Three connectors introduce a meaningful zu-infinitive clause:
| connector | meaning | example |
|---|---|---|
| um…zu | purpose ("in order to") | Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren. |
| ohne…zu | "without …-ing" | Er ging, ohne sich zu verabschieden. |
| (an)statt…zu | "instead of …-ing" | Statt zu arbeiten, schläft er. |
The key condition: both parts must share the same subject. Because the subject is not repeated inside the zu-clause, you never put a conjugated verb there — only zu + infinitive.
With separable verbs, the zu slips inside the verb, between the prefix and the stem: anrufen → anzurufen, aufstehen → aufzustehen. Everything still ends with that infinitive form.
Examples
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.
I learn German in order to study in Germany.
Er ging, ohne sich zu verabschieden.
He left without saying goodbye.
Statt zu arbeiten, schläft er.
Instead of working, he sleeps.
Common mistakes
um…zu takes zu + infinitive at the end, not a conjugated verb; and only when both clauses share the same subject.