German LettersGrammar AppendixDouble Infinitiveby Eugene R. Moutoux |
| In order to use modals in the
conversational past or in the past perfect with complementary
infinitives, a so-called double infinitive is required. Examples:
Sie hat es sagen müssen. (She had to say it.) Sie hatte es sagen müssen. (She had had to say it.) Sie haben mitgehen wollen. (They wanted to go along.) Sie hatten mitgehen wollen. (They had wanted to go along.) Note the unusual word order when the double- infinitive construction is used in a subordinate clause: Ich bin zu Hause geblieben, obwohl ich hatte mitgehen wollen. |