---
title: "Perfect with Double Infinitive — German grammar C1"
description: "Form the special German perfect with modals, sehen, hören, and lassen."
canonical: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-perfect-double-infinitive-modal-perception-lassen"
lang: "en"
learning_language: "de"
cefr_level: "C1"
updated: "2026-07-11"
alternates:
  en: "https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-perfect-double-infinitive-modal-perception-lassen.md"
  fr: "https://cefra.app/fr/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-perfect-double-infinitive-modal-perception-lassen.md"
  pl: "https://cefra.app/pl/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-perfect-double-infinitive-modal-perception-lassen.md"
  ru: "https://cefra.app/ru/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-perfect-double-infinitive-modal-perception-lassen.md"
---

# Perfect with Double Infinitive

[Cefra](https://cefra.app/en.md) › [German](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de.md) › [Grammar](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar.md) › [C1](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1.md) › Perfect with Double Infinitive

Form the special German perfect with modals, sehen, hören, and lassen.

Last updated: July 11, 2026

With a modal plus another infinitive, the infinitive replaces the past participle: **hat arbeiten müssen**. The pattern also applies to **sehen, hören, lassen**. In subordinate clauses, finite **haben** stands in the final verbal complex directly before the infinitive cluster. Without a second infinitive, ordinary participles such as **gemusst, gesehen, gelassen** appear.

## German example map

| Rule                            | German example                                              |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| modal + lexical verb            | **Sie hat länger arbeiten müssen.**                         |
| subordinate order               | **..., weil sie länger hat arbeiten müssen.**               |
| _lassen_ + infinitive           | **Er hat das Fahrrad reparieren lassen.**                   |
| subordinate _lassen_            | **..., weil er das Fahrrad hat reparieren lassen.**         |
| perception _sehen_              | **Wir haben die Kinder draußen spielen sehen.**             |
| perception _hören_              | **Ich habe jemanden an die Tür klopfen hören.**             |
| ordinary participle of _lassen_ | **Er hat die Tasche zu Hause gelassen.**                    |
| ordinary participle of _sehen_  | **Wir haben den Film gesehen.**                             |
| minimal pair                    | **Sie hat gehen müssen. – Sie hat heute ins Büro gemusst.** |
| main/subordinate pair           | **Er hat kommen können. – ..., weil er hat kommen können.** |

## Exercises

[Start practice](https://cefra.app/en/explore/de/grammar/c1/german-perfect-double-infinitive-modal-perception-lassen/practice)

1. Form the required past construction and check auxiliary, participle, or substitute infinitive. (10 tasks)
2. Form the required past construction and check auxiliary, participle, or substitute infinitive. (10 tasks)