Breakdown of Wir brauchen die Genehmigung, um die Stadt zu umfahren.
wir
we
brauchen
to need
die Stadt
the city
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
um ... zu
in order to
umfahren
to bypass / to run over
die Genehmigung
the permit
Questions & Answers about Wir brauchen die Genehmigung, um die Stadt zu umfahren.
Wait, doesn't umfahren mean to run something over?
It can! The verb umfahren changes meaning depending on whether its prefix is separable. When the um- prefix is separable, it means 'to run over'. When it is inseparable, like in this sentence, it means 'to drive around' or 'bypass'.
Why is the word zu placed in front of umfahren instead of inside it?
In um ... zu (in order to) constructions, the zu goes right before the infinitive verb. Because umfahren is inseparable here, the verb stays intact as zu umfahren. If we were using the separable version meaning 'to run over', the zu would be sandwiched inside: umzufahren.
Why are there two ums in this sentence?
They are doing completely different jobs. The first um is part of the grammar structure um ... zu, which translates to 'in order to'. The second um is simply the prefix of the verb umfahren.
Is the pronunciation of umfahren different depending on what it means?
Yes! Because it means 'to bypass' here, it is inseparable, and the spoken stress falls on the main part of the verb: umFAHREN. If you meant 'to run over' (the separable version), you would stress the prefix instead: UMfahren.
Learn Wir brauchen die Genehmigung, um die Stadt zu umfahren and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free