Introduction: The te + Infinitive Construction

In Dutch, similar to the "to + verb" infinitive form in English, you often use te + the infinitive form of a verb. This construction appears in various grammatical structures, notably after certain verbs, in combination with om, and after some adjectives.

1. om + te + infinitive: Expressing Purpose, Reason, Intention

This is a very common and important structure used to explain why someone does something (purpose or intention).

Structure: Main Clause + om + (optional extra info) + te + Infinitive (+ Rest)

• Ik ga naar de supermarkt om boodschappen te doen. (I am going to the supermarket to do groceries.) - Purpose
• Hij studeert hard om goede cijfers te halen. (He studies hard to get good grades.) - Purpose
• Ze gebruiken een kaart om de weg niet kwijt te raken. (They use a map in order not to get lost.) - Negative purpose
• Het is belangrijk om gezond te eten. (It is important to eat healthily.) - Here, om...te specifies what is important.
• Ik heb geen tijd om je te helpen. (I don't have time to help you.) - Explains the lack of time.

Key Points:

• om introduces the purpose/reason.
• te comes directly before the infinitive verb.
• If there are objects or adverbs related to the infinitive, they usually come between om and te + infinitive.
• If the infinitive is a separable verb, the prefix and verb stay together after te: om op te staan (to get up), om mee te nemen (to take along).

2. te + infinitive After Certain Verbs

Many verbs are directly followed by te + infinitive without om. These often express beginning, continuing, stopping, trying, promising, forgetting, deciding, seeming, etc.

Structure: Subject + Conjugated Verb + (Object/Rest) + te + Infinitive

Common Verbs + te + Infinitive:

• beginnen te (to begin to): Het begint te regenen. (It's beginning to rain.)
• stoppen met ... te (to stop ... to/doing): Hij stopt met roken. (He stops smoking.) Note: stoppen met often takes a noun/gerund or te+inf if the verb is clear. Hij stopt om te roken means He stops in order to smoke!
• proberen te (to try to): Ik probeer Nederlands te leren. (I am trying to learn Dutch.)
• vergeten te (to forget to): Ik ben vergeten de deur op slot te doen. (I forgot to lock the door.)
• beloven te (to promise to): Hij belooft mij te helpen. (He promises to help me.)
• besluiten te (to decide to): We besluiten naar huis te gaan. (We decide to go home.)
• lijken te / schijnen te (to seem to): Hij lijkt moe te zijn. (He seems to be tired.) Het schijnt een aardige man te zijn. (He seems to be a nice man.)
• hoeven te (to need to - used in negative/questions): Je hoeft dat niet te doen. (You don't need to do that.) Hoeven we niet te wachten? (Don't we need to wait?)
• durven te (to dare to): Hij durft het niet te vragen. (He doesn't dare to ask.)
• (Weten te) (to manage to/succeed in): Hij wist te ontsnappen. (He managed to escape.)

Placement: te comes directly before the infinitive. Objects/adverbs related to the infinitive often come just before te or after the infinitive.

3. te + infinitive After Certain Adjectives + zijn

Some adjectives, when used with zijn, are often followed by te + infinitive to specify what the adjective refers to.

Structure: Subject + zijn (conjugated) + Adjective + te + Infinitive

• Het is moeilijk te zeggen. (It is difficult to say.)
• Deze tekst is makkelijk te begrijpen. (This text is easy to understand.)
• Ik ben blij je te zien. (I am happy to see you.)
• Het is interessant om dat te weten. (It's interesting to know that.) - Often combined with om here.
• Ben je bereid te helpen? (Are you prepared/willing to help?)

4. Verbs WITHOUT te (Modal Verbs, gaan, komen, laten, zien, horen, voelen)

It's crucial to remember that some verbs are followed by a bare infinitive (without te). These include:

• Modal verbs: kunnen, willen, moeten, mogen, zullen
• Ik kan zwemmen. (NOT Ik kan te zwemmen.)
• gaan, komen (often implying movement + action)
• Wij gaan wandelen. (NOT Wij gaan te wandelen.)
• Hij komt eten. (He is coming to eat.) (NOT Hij komt te eten.)
• laten (to let, to have something done)
• Ik laat hem gaan. (I let him go.)
• Ik laat mijn haar knippen. (I have my hair cut.)
• Verbs of perception: zien, horen, voelen
• Ik zie hem lopen. (I see him walking.)
• Ik hoor de baby huilen. (I hear the baby crying.)

The te + infinitive construction is widespread in Dutch. Key uses include:

• om + te + infinitive for purpose/reason.
• te + infinitive after specific verbs (like beginnen, proberen, vergeten, beloven, lijken, hoeven).
• te + infinitive after certain adjectives + zijn.

Contrast this with verbs that take a bare infinitive (modals, gaan, komen, laten, perception verbs). Recognizing which verbs require te is essential for correct sentence formation.