Breakdown of Dann holt er das Handy, um den Computer zu entsperren.
er
he
das Handy
the cellphone
der Computer
the computer
holen
to get / to fetch
dann
then
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
um ... zu
in order to
entsperren
to unlock
Questions & Answers about Dann holt er das Handy, um den Computer zu entsperren.
How does the prefix ent- change the meaning of the verb in entsperren?
The base verb sperren means to lock, block, or bar. The inseparable prefix ent- usually expresses the removal or reversal of a state. By adding it, you get entsperren, which means to remove the lock, or 'to unlock'.
Is entsperren separable? How does that affect the zu in this sentence?
Verbs starting with ent- are always inseparable. When using an inseparable verb in an um ... zu (in order to) clause, the zu sits as a separate word right in front of the infinitive: zu entsperren. If it were a separable verb like aufmachen (to open), the zu would be wedged inside the word: aufzumachen.
Why is the word order Dann holt er instead of 'Dann er holt'?
This is the classic 'verb-second' rule. The adverb Dann takes up the first position in the sentence. The conjugated verb holt must stay in the second position, so the subject er is pushed into the third position.
Is das Handy an English loanword?
It looks English, but it is actually a 'pseudo-anglicism' popularized by German speakers. While it comes from the English adjective 'handy' (meaning practical or convenient), native English speakers say 'cell phone' or 'mobile phone', whereas Germans use das Handy as the noun for it.
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