Infinitive clauses with zu, ohne ... zu and statt ... zu

In brief

A German infinitive clause adds an action without giving it its own subject. After verbs such as versuchen (to try) or vergessen (to forget), use zu before the infinitive. Ohne … zu means ‘without doing something’; statt … zu means ‘instead of doing something’. With ohne and statt, the person doing both actions is normally the same.

Form

Main clause + , + (ohne / statt) + other words + zu + infinitive. With separable verbs, zu goes between the prefix and the verb: aufzustehen.

Usage

• Use a zu-clause after verbs such as versuchen or vergessen to say what someone tries or forgets to do.
• Use ohne … zu to describe an action someone does not perform while doing something else.
• Use statt … zu to describe an alternative action the same person takes.

Examples

• Ich habe vergessen, den Wecker zu stellen. — I forgot to set the alarm.
• Ich versuche, früher aufzustehen. — I’m trying to get up earlier.
• Sie ging, ohne sich zu verabschieden. — She left without saying goodbye.
• Er schaut fern, statt seine Hausaufgaben zu machen. — He watches TV instead of doing his homework.

Common mistake

❌ Ich versuche, früher zu aufstehen.

✅ Ich versuche, früher aufzustehen.

With a separable verb, put zu between the prefix and the verb, not before the whole infinitive.

Remember

The infinitive goes at the end of its clause. Set off an ohne- or statt-clause with a comma.