Breakdown of Die Schrift ist zu unklar, als dass ich sie lesen könnte.
ich
I
sein
to be
sie
she
lesen
to read
zu
too (e.g., too big)
können
can / to be able to
klar
clear; obvious
als dass
than that
die Schrift
the writing
Questions & Answers about Die Schrift ist zu unklar, als dass ich sie lesen könnte.
Why do we use the Konjunktiv II form könnte instead of the normal present tense kann?
The phrase als dass introduces an irreal consequence, meaning something that cannot actually happen because of the condition in the first part. Since the writing is too unclear, you cannot read it. German requires Konjunktiv II (könnte) to show that this consequence is hypothetical or impossible.
Does als dass always force the conjugated verb to the end of the sentence?
Yes. als dass acts as a subordinating conjunction, which means it kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of the clause. Here, the conjugated modal verb könnte gets pushed right to the end, after the infinitive lesen.
Could I use the simpler um ... zu structure here instead of als dass?
You could say Die Schrift ist zu unklar, um sie zu lesen to mean the writing is too unclear to read in a general sense. However, als dass allows you to introduce a specific new subject (ich) into the second half of the sentence. Because the subjects in the two clauses (die Schrift and ich) are different, you must use als dass to specify exactly who is unable to do the reading.
Why is the pronoun sie used here when the English translation says it?
The pronoun refers back to die Schrift (the writing or handwriting). Because Schrift is a feminine noun, it must be replaced by the feminine pronoun sie as the direct object of lesen, even though we translate it as it in English.
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