Breakdown of Ich brauche ein Gramm Kraut, um den Zaubertrank zu brauen.
ich
I
ein
a, an (eine)
brauchen
to need
das Gramm
the gram
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
um ... zu
in order to
brauen
to brew
das Kraut
the herb
der Zaubertrank
the magic potion
Questions & Answers about Ich brauche ein Gramm Kraut, um den Zaubertrank zu brauen.
Why does the German sentence say ein Gramm Kraut instead of using a word for 'of' like ein Gramm von Kraut?
This is called a partitive apposition, which is the standard way to express weights, measures, and quantities in German. Instead of connecting the measure (ein Gramm) and the material (Kraut) with a preposition like von or using the genitive case, you just put them side by side. Because ein Gramm is the direct object in the accusative case, Kraut also takes the accusative case here.
Could I use the partitive genitive here and say ein Gramm Krauts?
Technically yes, but it would sound extremely outdated or poetic. Modern German usually only uses the partitive genitive if the material noun is accompanied by an adjective, like ein Gramm magischen Krauts (one gram of magic herb). However, even with an adjective, keeping both in the same case as an apposition (ein Gramm magisches Kraut) is completely correct and far more common in everyday speech.
If I needed two grams, would the plural be zwei Gramme Kraut?
What is the exact function of the um ... zu construction here?
The um ... zu (in order to) construction introduces a final clause, which answers the question 'for what purpose?'. While English often just uses 'to' for this purpose, as in 'to brew the potion', German requires um at the beginning of the clause and zu right before the infinitive verb (brauen) at the end to clearly show your intention.
Learn Ich brauche ein Gramm Kraut, um den Zaubertrank zu brauen 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