Breakdown of Ist dieser Bewerber zu alt, um die Arbeit zu bekommen?
sein
to be
alt
old
die Arbeit
the work
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
zu
too (e.g., too big)
um ... zu
in order to
bekommen
to receive / to get (be given)
der Bewerber
the applicant
Questions & Answers about Ist dieser Bewerber zu alt, um die Arbeit zu bekommen?
How does the zu ... um ... zu structure work in this sentence?
It is the German equivalent of saying "too [adjective] to [do something]". In the main clause, you have zu alt (too old). The second part, um die Arbeit zu bekommen, explains what he is too old for. The word um introduces the infinitive clause, and zu goes right before the infinitive verb at the end.
Where does the verb go in the um ... zu clause?
In an um ... zu clause, the infinitive verb (bekommen) is always pushed to the very end of the sentence, immediately preceded by zu. Any other information, like the direct object (die Arbeit), is sandwiched between um and zu.
Why is there a comma before um?
In German grammar, infinitive clauses that start with um, ohne, or anstatt must always be separated from the main clause by a comma. Here, it creates a clear boundary between the main question (Ist dieser Bewerber zu alt) and the action he might be too old for (um die Arbeit zu bekommen).
I often confuse bekommen with "to become". Why is bekommen used here?
This is a classic "false friend"! Bekommen means "to receive" or "to get" (like getting a job, an email, or a gift). The German word for "to become" is werden. If you used werden in this sentence, you would actually be asking if the applicant is too old to become a job!
Why do we use dieser instead of diesen or dieses?
Bewerber (applicant) is a masculine noun (der Bewerber). Because the applicant is the subject of the sentence (the one who is "too old"), it is in the nominative case. Therefore, the demonstrative word dies- takes the masculine nominative ending -er, giving us dieser.
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