Editing German language (section)

====Multiple infinitives====
German subordinate clauses have all verbs clustered at the end. Given that auxiliaries encode [[future]], [[Passive voice|passive]], [[Modality (semiotics)|modality]], and the [[perfect (grammar)|perfect]], this can lead to very long chains of verbs at the end of the sentence. In these constructions, the past participle in ''ge-'' is often replaced by the infinitive.

''Man nimmt an, dass  der   Deserteur wohl  erschossen<sub>V</sub> worden<sub>psv</sub> sein<sub>perf</sub> sollte<sub>mod</sub>''<br />
One suspects that the deserter probably shot become be should<br />
("It is suspected that the deserter probably should have been shot")

The order at the end of such strings is subject to variation, though the latter version is unusual.

''Er wusste nicht, dass der Agent einen Nachschlüssel hatte machen lassen''<br />
He knew not that the agent a picklock had make let

''Er wusste nicht, dass der Agent einen Nachschlüssel machen lassen hatte''<br />
He knew not that the agent a picklock make let had

("He did not know that the agent had had a picklock made")