Breakdown of Die Frau ist zu jung, um diese Position zu bekommen.
sein
to be
die Frau
the woman
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
zu
too (e.g., too big)
jung
young
um ... zu
in order to
bekommen
to receive / to get (be given)
die Position
the position
Questions & Answers about Die Frau ist zu jung, um diese Position zu bekommen.
How does the "zu ... um ... zu" structure translate to English here?
This structure translates perfectly to the English "too [adjective] to [verb]". In this sentence, zu jung means "too young", and um ... zu bekommen means "to get" (literally: "in order to get"). Together, they express that her young age prevents her from getting the position.
Why is there a comma before "um"?
In German, infinitive clauses that start with um, ohne, or anstatt must always be separated from the main clause by a comma. English doesn't use a comma for this ("too young to get..."), but German grammar strictly requires it.
Why is the word order "um diese Position zu bekommen" instead of "um zu bekommen diese Position"?
In an um ... zu clause, um always goes at the very beginning of the phrase, and the zu + infinitive verb (zu bekommen) must go at the very end. Any other information, like the direct object (diese Position), gets sandwiched in between them.
What case is "diese Position" in?
It is in the accusative case because it is the direct object being acted upon by the verb bekommen (to get). Because Position is a feminine noun, the accusative ending for diese (this) looks exactly the same as its subject (nominative) form.
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