Other constructions with 'zu'
Other useful constructions using zu are:
- ohne...zu... 鈥 without doing something
- (an)statt...zu... 鈥 instead of doing something
What do they have in common?
- They imply negative action - 'without doing it' or 'instead of doing it', means you don't actually do it.
- They are used in exactly the same way as um...zu...
- They can start the clause, or link two clauses.
- You still drop the subject and the verb in the second sentence and replace them with the infinitive.
- You may need to omit the negative word.
Hilfsvokabeln 鈥 Helpful vocabulary
- die U-Bahn (f) 鈥 underground, tube, metro
- kaufen (v) 鈥 to buy
- die Fahrkarte (f) 鈥 ticket (for travel)
- die Fahrkarten (pl) 鈥 tickets
- segeln (v) 鈥 to sail
- das Kanu (nt) - canoe
Examples
Look at how the example sentences in the first table are linked together in the second table:
| Separate sentences | Meaning |
| Ich war oft in Bremen. Ich habe das Universum nicht besucht | I have often been in Bremen. I have not visited the Universum. |
| Sie sind in die U-Bahn gesprungen. Sie haben keine Fahrkarten gekauft. | They jumped into the underground. They did not buy tickets. |
| Ich spiele oft am Computer. Ich mache die Hausuaufgaben nicht. | I often play on the computer. I don't do my homework. |
| Er f盲hrt gern Kanu. Er segelt nicht. | He likes canoeing. He does not sail |
| Separate sentences | Ich war oft in Bremen. Ich habe das Universum nicht besucht |
|---|---|
| Meaning | I have often been in Bremen. I have not visited the Universum. |
| Separate sentences | Sie sind in die U-Bahn gesprungen. Sie haben keine Fahrkarten gekauft. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | They jumped into the underground. They did not buy tickets. |
| Separate sentences | Ich spiele oft am Computer. Ich mache die Hausuaufgaben nicht. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | I often play on the computer. I don't do my homework. |
| Separate sentences | Er f盲hrt gern Kanu. Er segelt nicht. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | He likes canoeing. He does not sail |
| Linked sentences | Meaning |
| Ich war oft in Bremen, ohne das Universum zu besuchen. | I have often been in Bremen without visiting the Universum. |
| Sie sind in die U-Bahn gesprungen, ohne Fahrkarten zu kaufen. | They jumped into the underground without buying tickets. |
| Ich spiele oft am Computer, anstatt die Hausaufgaben zu machen. | I often play on the computer instead of doing my homework. |
| Er f盲hrt gern Kanu, anstatt zu segeln. | He likes canoeing instead of sailing. |
| Linked sentences | Ich war oft in Bremen, ohne das Universum zu besuchen. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | I have often been in Bremen without visiting the Universum. |
| Linked sentences | Sie sind in die U-Bahn gesprungen, ohne Fahrkarten zu kaufen. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | They jumped into the underground without buying tickets. |
| Linked sentences | Ich spiele oft am Computer, anstatt die Hausaufgaben zu machen. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | I often play on the computer instead of doing my homework. |
| Linked sentences | Er f盲hrt gern Kanu, anstatt zu segeln. |
|---|---|
| Meaning | He likes canoeing instead of sailing. |
Did you know?
Bremen has been an important port and commercial and industrial city for hundreds of years. Its interactive science museum, das Universum, welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
Visitors can explore three main themes at the museum, namely technology, humans and nature - Technik, Mensch und Natur.
The museum is housed in a very distinctive-looking, metal building that looks like a cross between a mussel and a whale.
'Das Universum' is situated next to the university buildings in Bremen