zu-infinitive

English

Etymology

Noun

zu-infinitive (plural zu-infinitives)

(grammar) a German infinitive form created by adding or infixing the particle zu and used in subordinate clauses
abgeben → abzugeben

vorbereiten → vorzubereiten

Usage notes

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

Translations

a German infinitive form created by adding or infixing the particle zu

German: zu-Infinitiv m, erweiterter Infinitiv (de)