Breakdown of Die Bauern düngen den Boden, um den Ertrag zu steigern.
der Boden
the floor / the ground
der Bauer
the farmer
um ... zu
in order to
der Ertrag
the yield
Questions & Answers about Die Bauern düngen den Boden, um den Ertrag zu steigern.
Why does this sentence use um ... zu instead of dadurch, dass, which we are learning right now?
They express different things! um ... zu expresses a goal or purpose ("in order to"). dadurch, dass expresses the means or method ("by doing [something]"). Here, increasing the yield is the goal, so um ... zu is used. If we flipped the sentence to say "The farmers increase the yield by fertilizing the soil," we would use the lesson's grammar: Die Bauern steigern den Ertrag dadurch, dass sie den Boden düngen.
What is the difference between steigern and steigen?
steigen means "to rise" or "to go up" on its own (like prices rising). steigern means "to raise" or "to increase something" and requires a direct object. Because the farmers are actively increasing "the yield" (den Ertrag), we must use steigern.
Why is it den Ertrag and not der Ertrag in the second part of the sentence?
Even though it is inside an infinitive clause, der Ertrag (the yield) is still the direct object of the verb steigern (to increase). Therefore, it must be in the accusative case, changing the masculine article der to den.
Do I always need a comma before um ... zu?
Yes. In German, infinitive clauses that are introduced by specific words like um (in order to), ohne (without), or anstatt (instead of) must always be separated from the main sentence by a comma.