You are currently viewing List of 90 Words and Phrases that Require Infinitive Clauses

List of 90 Words and Phrases that Require Infinitive Clauses

You all know that the 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

GermanEnglish
beabsichtigento intend
behauptento claim / assert
beschließento decide
dazu beitragento contribute
dazu neigento incline
dazu tendierento tend
drohento threaten
gelobento pledge
glauben to believe
hoffento hope
jdm. anbietento offer (to someone)
lernento learn
planento plan
schwörento swear / vow
vereinbarento agree
vorhabento intend / plan
vergessento forget
versäumento omit / miss
versprechento promise
versuchento try
vortäuschento pretend
vorziehento prefer
zögernto hesitate

Example:- Sie hofft, ihre Freunde bald zu treffen. (She hopes to meet her friends soon.)


List of Reflexive Verbs that Require Infinitive Clauses

GermanEnglish
sich bereit erklärento agree / consent
sich daranmachento proceed / begin
sich entscheidento decide
sich erinnernto remember
sich leisten + Dat.to afford
sich sehnento crave
sich trauento dare
sich verpflichtento commit oneself
sich wagento dare
sich weigernto 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

GermanEnglish
bemühtwilling
bestrebtanxious
beunruhigtworried
entschlossendetermined
enttäuschtdisappointed
erfreutpleased / delighted
erleichtertrelieved
frohglad
traurigsad
überraschtsurprised

Example:- Wir sind erfreut, das zu hören. (We are pleased to hear that.)

List of verbs that require infinitive clauses

List of Noun Phrases that Require Infinitive Clauses

GermanEnglish
die Absicht habento have the intention
das Angebot machen / annehmento make / accept an offer
in Betracht ziehento consider / contemplate
die Drohung aussprechento utter a threat
die Entscheidung treffento come to a decision
den Entschluss fassento come to a conclusion
die Hoffnung habento have the hope
die Neigung habento have the inclination
die Notwendigkeit sehento see the need
die Vereinbarung treffento reach an agreement
das Versprechen gebento make a promise
den Versuch unternehmento 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

GermanEnglish
bittento ask / request
dazu bringento persuade
einladento invite
ermutigento encourage
erinnernto remind
lehrento teach
überredento persuade / coax
überzeugento convince
veranlassento prompt / induce
warnento warn
zwingento 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

GermanEnglish
befehlento order
beibringento teach
empfehlento recommend
ermöglichento enable
erlaubento allow
gelingento succeed
gestattento permit
helfento help
leichtfallento be easy
ratento advise
verbietento 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.

GermanEnglish
egoistischegoistical
gerechtfair / just
klugsmart / clever
kompliziertcomplicated
leichteasy
mutigbrave
schwierigdifficult
sinnlospointless / senseless
traurigsad
unangenehmunpleasant
unhöflichimpolite
unmöglichimpossible

Example:- Es ist sinnlos, sich jetzt den Krimi anzusehen. (It is pointless to watch the thriller now.)


Want to learn how to construct infinitive sentences in German? Click here to check out our lesson on Infinitive Clauses.

Also, find out how well you understood the infinitives here.

PS – On this blog, you will find grammar lists just like this one, vocabulary lists divided subject-wise as well as articles related to countries like Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a lot more. Keep scrolling, keep learning!

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