Not every um-zu group names a goal
Der Koffer ist zu schwer, um ihn allein zu tragen expresses excess degree: its weight prevents carrying it alone. The first zu modifies schwer; the second belongs to the infinitive. This is not someone’s purpose in making the suitcase heavy.
Der Tisch ist groß genug, um daran zu arbeiten presents sufficient size. Genug follows the adjective, whereas genug Platz puts it before a noun. The understood performer can be a contextually general person; the grammatical subject der Tisch does not do the working. This explains why a simple same-subject slogan fails for degree constructions. The finite alternative zu schwer, als dass ich ihn allein tragen könnte makes the person explicit.
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
6. Complete “too heavy to carry alone”: Der Koffer ist __ schwer, um ihn allein __ tragen.
zu … zu. The first marks excess degree, the second the infinitive. The suitcase is not the person carrying.
7. Correct the word order: Der Tisch ist genug groß, um daran zu arbeiten.
Der Tisch ist groß genug, um daran zu arbeiten. With an adjective, genug follows it.
Start with the topic overview
German infinitive clauses: bare forms, zu and performers · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Does um … zu always mean in order to?
No. After zu plus adjective or adjective plus genug, it can express a degree-related consequence or limit rather than an intended goal.
Sources and further learning
- Rat für deutsche Rechtschreibung via IDS: §73 Komma bei Nebensätzen
- IDS: Infinitiv mit oder ohne zu
- IDS: Verben mit Infinitiv ohne zu
- IDS: Satzklammer und Stellungsfelder
- IDS: Die Folgen von etwas ausdrücken
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