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If you start a sentence with one of the zu clauses, remember the position of the main verb immediately after it.

Hilfsvokabeln – Helpful vocabulary

• ���ܳ�ö����� (v) – to listen
• der Unterricht (m) – teaching, lessons
• im Unterricht – in lessons, in class

Example one

Ich höre dem Lehrer nicht zu. Ich sitze im Unterricht. – I don't listen to the teacher. I sit in class.

Ohne dem Lehrer zu���ܳ�ö�����, sitze ich im Unterricht. – I sit in class without listening to the teacher. (literally: Without listening to the teacher, sit I in class)

The process can be broken down as follows:

• Ohne dem Lehrer zu���ܳ�ö����� = first idea
• sitze = second idea
• the subject ich is moved to come after the verb
• the comma matters - it separates the two ideas

Example two

Ich schlafe nicht. Ich lese. – I don't sleep. I read.

Anstatt zu schlafen, lese ich. – Instead of sleeping, I read.

• Anstatt zu schlafen = first idea
• lese = second idea
• the subject ich is moved to come after the verb
• the comma matters - it separates the two ideas