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I don't know exactly when to put commas in sentences with infinitive. For example, I saw two sentences:

Mein Bruder schien im siebten Himmel zu sein.

Er hatte sogar vergessen, mir Geld zu schicken.

Why is the second sentence divided into parts by a comma whereas the first sentence isn't?

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  • I don't believe the comma in the srcond sentence is necessary, where exactly did you get that from?
    – πάντα ῥεῖ
    Commented Mar 29, 2020 at 8:29
  • @πάνταῥεῖ I was reading a book with German stories
    – Steve
    Commented Mar 29, 2020 at 9:18
  • Could well be a simple typo. I am not aware of such grammar rule.
    – πάντα ῥεῖ
    Commented Mar 29, 2020 at 9:24
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    @πάνταῥεῖ I would say the latter sentence looks like a "erweiterter Infinitiv mit zu" that should get a comma in old orthography.
    – harper
    Commented Mar 29, 2020 at 11:17

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The comma in the second sentence was mandatory in the old orthography before 1996 but is optional in the current orthography. It introduces an infinitive clause. See Duden D114-117.

The same would apply to the first sentence if it was not for the verb scheinen which is never used with comma (Duden D117).

For further reference, see here.

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