German Phrase
Die App schlägt vor, es so zu machen.
Meaning
The sentence means that the application recommends a particular way of doing something. It conveys a neutral, informational suggestion rather than a command.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to report or discuss a recommendation that a software program, mobile app, or digital service gives you, especially in a tech‑support or user‑experience context.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DieAppschlägtvor,essozumachen.
Trennbares Verb: schlagen vor
‘schlagen vor’ is a separable verb; in main clauses the prefix ‘vor’ moves to the end of the clause.
zu‑Infinitiv nach ‘schlagen vor’
When ‘schlagen vor’ is followed by an action, German uses a ‘zu‑Infinitiv’ construction: ‘es so zu machen’.
Pronomen ‘es’ als Platzhalter
‘es’ stands in for the previously mentioned or implied action, similar to ‘it’ in English.
Adverb ‘so’
‘so’ modifies the infinitive phrase, meaning ‘in this way’ or ‘like that’.
🗨In Conversation
Die App schlägt vor, es so zu machen.
The app suggests doing it this way.
Okay, dann probiere ich das gleich aus.
Okay, I’ll try that right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Die App schlägt vor, dass es so zu machen.
‘schlagen vor’ does not take a ‘dass‑clause’; it requires a ‘zu‑Infinitiv’.
Die App schlägt vor, es zu machen so.
The infinitive must stay together; you cannot split ‘es’ and ‘machen’.
Die App vor schlägt, es so zu machen.
In main clauses the separable prefix goes to the end, not before the verb.
↔Alternatives
Die App empfiehlt, es so zu machen.
The app recommends doing it this way.
Die App rät dazu, es so zu machen.
The app advises to do it this way.
Die App meint, man sollte es so machen.
The app thinks one should do it this way.
Cultural Tip
In German, ‘schlagen vor’ is a fairly formal way to express a suggestion, making it common in written instructions, apps, and professional contexts. If you want a more casual tone, you could use ‘empfehlen’ or ‘raten’. Also, note that the infinitive with ‘zu’ is mandatory after ‘schlagen vor’; omitting ‘zu’ would be ungrammatical.