scheinen, pflegen, drohen, versprechen + zu
Explicação
Die Mauer drohte einzustürzen. The wall did not threaten anyone — it was about to collapse. Four German verbs shift meaning entirely with zu + infinitive.
In these constructions the verb loses its own meaning and becomes a modality marker: appearance, habit, risk or prospect.
| Verb | Meaning with zu + inf. | Example |
|---|---|---|
| scheinen | to seem | Er scheint krank zu sein. |
| pflegen | to tend to (formal) | Sie pflegt früh aufzustehen. |
| drohen | to be at risk of | Das Projekt droht zu scheitern. |
| versprechen | to show promise of | Das Wetter verspricht schön zu werden. |
⚠️ Watch out
✗ Reading droht zu brechen as "threatened someone"
✓ Reading it as "is at risk of breaking"
With zu + infinitive, drohen marks imminent risk, not intent.
🧠 scheinen = appearance · pflegen = formal habit · drohen = negative risk · versprechen = positive prospect.
Exemplos
Die Wirtschaft scheint sich zu erholen.
The economy seems to be recovering.
Der Gletscher droht zu schmelzen.
The glacier is at risk of melting.
Das neue Medikament verspricht wirksam zu sein.
The new medication shows promise of being effective.
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