Breakdown of Die Schrift ist zu winzig, als dass sie für mich lesbar wäre.
sein
to be
sie
she
mich
me
zu
too (e.g., too big)
für
for
lesbar
readable
winzig
tiny
als dass
than that
die Schrift
the writing
Questions & Answers about Die Schrift ist zu winzig, als dass sie für mich lesbar wäre.
Why do we use the Konjunktiv II form wäre in this sentence?
The structure zu + adjective + als dass describes a consequence that is impossible because the condition in the first part is too extreme. Since the writing being legible is a hypothetical situation that is not actually happening, German requires the Konjunktiv II (wäre).
Is als dass a subordinating conjunction here?
Yes. Just like dass or weil, the combination als dass introduces a subordinate clause. This is why the conjugated verb (wäre) is pushed to the very end of the sentence.
Could I use an um ... zu construction instead of als dass here?
Yes! Because the subject in both halves of the sentence is the same (die Schrift and sie), you could use an infinitive clause instead: Die Schrift ist zu winzig, um für mich lesbar zu sein. The als dass structure is mandatory when the two clauses have different subjects, but optional when they share one.
Why is the pronoun sie used to mean 'it' instead of es?
In German, pronouns must match the grammatical gender of the noun they replace. Since die Schrift (the writing or font) is feminine, you must refer back to it with sie in the second clause, even though we translate it as 'it' in English.
How does the suffix -bar in lesbar work?
It works exactly like the English suffixes '-able' or '-ible'. By attaching it to the root of the verb lesen (to read), it creates the adjective lesbar, meaning 'readable' or 'legible'.
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