zu-infinitive

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From German zu + infinitive.

Noun[edit]

zu-infinitive (plural zu-infinitives)

  1. (grammar) a German infinitive form created by adding or infixing the particle zu and used in subordinate clauses
    abgebenabzugeben
    vorbereitenvorzubereiten

Usage notes[edit]

While theoretically any infinitive with zu could be considered a zu-infinitive (for example: habenzu haben), this term is used primarily to refer to separable verbs with the zu particle infixed after the prefix.

Translations[edit]