Compact clauses that connect two actions sharing the same subject, using zu + infinitive at the end instead of a conjugated second verb.
| Construction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| um...zu | in order to | Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten. |
| ohne...zu | without doing | Er verließ das Haus, ohne die Tür zu schließen. |
| anstatt...zu / statt...zu | instead of doing | Sie blieb zu Hause, statt spazieren zu gehen. |
All three constructions require the same subject in both parts of the sentence. When the subjects differ, use a full subordinate clause instead (e.g. damit for purpose).
Aligned with standard Goethe-Zertifikat B1 / telc B1 exam syllabus topics.