ze + Infinitive

The Infinitive with Ze

Level 3

Verb or phrase + ... + ze + infinitive at the end: Ech probéieren, méi Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen.

How It Works

English "to" before a verb is often ze in Luxembourgish. Ze and the infinitive always stand at the very end of the clause:

  • after verbs like probéieren (try), vergiessen (forget), ufänken (start), hoffen (hope) and versichen (try): Ech probéieren, méi Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen.
  • after et ass + an adjective: Et ass net einfach, eng Wunneng ze fannen.
  • after nouns like Loscht and Zäit: Ech hu keng Loscht ze kachen.

Word order. Objects and other details go before ze, never after the infinitive: méi Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen. A separable verb takes ze in the middle: unzeruffen. See separable verbs with ze.

No ze. Modal verbs, goen and loossen take the infinitive without ze: Ech wëll Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen. But brauchen takes ze: see net brauchen ze.

Fir before ze. Luxembourgish often puts fir in front of a ze-infinitive, even when it does not mean "in order to": Mir probéieren, fir eng Léisung ze fannen. When the meaning really is "in order to", fir is needed; see fir ... ze.

Spelling. In standard writing ze stays in full, even before a vowel: ze entdecken. The one fixed exception is z'iessen (to eat). Do not mix this ze up with ze + adjective, which means too: ze spéit.

Commas. A short group of just ze and the verb has no comma: Et huet ugefaangen ze reenen. When the group is longer, a comma is optional after most verbs and needed after et ass + adjective: Et ass wichteg, all Dag e bëssen ze liesen.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech probéieren, méi Lëtzebuergesch ze schwätzen.

    I'm trying to speak more Luxembourgish.

    The object méi Lëtzebuergesch comes before ze.

  2. Et ass net einfach, eng Wunneng ze fannen.

    It isn't easy to find a flat.

    After et ass + adjective, the ze group follows a comma.

  3. Vergiess net, mech unzeruffen.

    Don't forget to call me.

    In the separable verb uruffen, ze goes in the middle.

  4. Et huet ugefaangen ze reenen.

    It has started to rain.

    A short ze group needs no comma.

  5. Ech hu keng Loscht ze kachen.

    I don't feel like cooking.

    Loscht is often followed by ze and an infinitive.

  6. Et ass wichteg, all Dag e bëssen ze liesen.

    It's important to read a little every day.

    All the details come before ze liesen.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the object after the infinitive, as in English.

    Ech probéieren ze léieren all Dag Lëtzebuergesch.
    Ech probéieren, all Dag Lëtzebuergesch ze léieren.

    Ze and the infinitive always come last. Put all Dag Lëtzebuergesch before them.

  • Leaving out ze.

    Et ass net einfach, eng Wunneng fannen.
    Et ass net einfach, eng Wunneng ze fannen.

    After et ass + adjective, the infinitive needs ze.

  • Using ze after a modal verb.

    Ech wëll ze Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.
    Ech wëll Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.

    Modal verbs like wëllen take a bare infinitive, without ze.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ze + InfinitiveLevel 3The Infinitive with Ze

Learn This First

Before The Infinitive With Ze, learn Modal Verb and Infinitive and Don't Need To: Net brauchen ze.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

zeprobéierenvergiessenufänkeneinfachLoscht