amplaz ... ze
Instead of Doing: Amplaz ... Ze
Amplaz ... ze + infinitive means instead of doing: Amplaz ze schaffen, kuckt hien Tëlee. (Instead of working, he watches TV.)
How It Works
1. How it is built
Amplaz first, then any objects, then ze and the infinitive:
- Si huet gelies, amplaz hir Aufgaben ze maachen. (She read instead of doing her homework.)
- Amplaz den Auto ze huelen, gi mer zu Fouss. (Instead of taking the car, we will walk.)
Amplaz is always written as one word.
2. At the start of the sentence
When the amplaz group comes first, it fills the first place, so the main verb comes right after the comma: Amplaz ze schaffen, kuckt hien Tëlee. See Starting With a Subordinate Clause.
3. Separable verbs
Ze goes between the prefix and the verb, all in one word: amplaz opzeraumen. See Ze Inside Separable Verbs.
4. Comma
The official spelling always puts a comma between the amplaz group and the rest of the sentence, even a short one: Hëllef mer léiwer, amplaz ze motzen!
5. Same subject only
The person in the main clause is the one who skips the action. If someone else is meant, use a full clause with amplaz datt: Amplaz datt hien eis hëlleft, sëtzt en do. See Ouni datt and Amplaz datt.
6. Amplaz with a noun
Before a noun, amplaz simply means instead of, with no ze: Ech drénken Téi amplaz Kaffi.
Examples (6)
- Amplaz ze schaffen, kuckt hien Tëlee.
Instead of working, he watches TV.
The amplaz group comes first, so kuckt follows the comma directly.
- Amplaz den Auto ze huelen, gi mer zu Fouss.
Instead of taking the car, we'll walk.
Ginn becomes gi before m.
- Si huet gelies, amplaz hir Aufgaben ze maachen.
She read instead of doing her homework.
- Hëllef mer léiwer, amplaz ze motzen!
Help me instead of sulking!
- Amplaz d'Kichen opzeraumen, ass hie spadséiere gaangen.
Instead of tidying the kitchen, he went for a walk.
Ze sits inside the separable verb: opzeraumen.
- Ech drénken Téi amplaz Kaffi.
I drink tea instead of coffee.
Before a noun, amplaz needs no ze.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out ze.
Amplaz schaffen, kuckt hien Tëlee.Amplaz ze schaffen, kuckt hien Tëlee.With a verb, amplaz always needs ze before the infinitive.
Putting the subject first after a fronted amplaz group.
Amplaz ze schaffen, hie kuckt Tëlee.Amplaz ze schaffen, kuckt hien Tëlee.The amplaz group fills the first place, so the verb comes right after the comma.
Putting ze before a separable verb.
Amplaz ze opraumen, ass hie spadséiere gaangen.Amplaz opzeraumen, ass hie spadséiere gaangen.With a separable verb, ze goes between the prefix and the verb: opzeraumen.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Instead of Doing: Amplaz ... ze, learn Without Doing: Ouni ... ze.
Related Patterns
- fir ... zeIn Order to: Fir ... Ze
Built the same way, meaning in order to.
Level 3 - ze + InfinitiveThe Infinitive with Ze
The basic infinitive with ze.
Level 3 - ze Inside Separable Verbs
Explains opzeraumen.
Level 3 - ouni datt / amplaz dattOuni Datt and Amplaz Datt
Use amplaz datt when someone else is meant.
Level 5 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
Explains why the verb follows the comma when amplaz comes first.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice amplaz ... ze in Bubblegum
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