A zu-infinitive is essentially a shortened subordinate clause.
| Pattern | Full clause it replaces |
|---|---|
| um zu | damit purpose clause |
| zu | dass object clause |
| es ist zu … | dass subject clause |
| ohne zu | ohne dass accompanying clause |
| anstatt zu | anstatt dass substitute clause |
With separable verbs, zu sits between prefix and stem (anzufangen).
Related
- Complex sentence
- Verbs — separable insertion and Satzrahmen