Breakdown of Das Mädchen ist zwar schlau, aber zu schüchtern, um zu fragen.
sein
to be
fragen
to ask
aber
but
das Mädchen
the girl
Questions & Answers about Das Mädchen ist zwar schlau, aber zu schüchtern, um zu fragen.
How does the zu ... um zu structure work here?
It translates to "too [adjective] to [do something]". In this sentence, zu schüchtern means "too shy", and um zu fragen means "to ask". Together, they express an excessive degree: her shyness prevents her from asking.
What is the purpose of the zwar ... aber pairing?
Zwar ... aber is a two-part conjunction meaning "indeed ... but" or "admittedly ... but". Zwar acknowledges a positive trait (schlau), while aber introduces the contrast (zu schüchtern). It creates a stronger contrast than using aber alone.
Why is there a comma before um zu fragen?
In German, infinitive clauses starting with um zu must always be separated from the main clause by a comma. This is a strict punctuation rule, unlike in English where we just write "too shy to ask" without a comma.
Why isn't there a pronoun like sie (she) in the um zu clause?
You can only use the um zu + infinitive structure if the subject is exactly the same in both parts of the sentence. Since das Mädchen (the girl) is both the one who is shy and the one who would ask, the subject doesn't need to be repeated in the second half.