Breakdown of Man kann die Wimpern verdunkeln, um sie zu betonen.
sie
they
können
can / to be able to
man
one / you (impersonal)
um ... zu
in order to
betonen
to emphasize
die Wimper
the eyelash
verdunkeln
to darken
Questions & Answers about Man kann die Wimpern verdunkeln, um sie zu betonen.
How does verdunkeln demonstrate the pattern taught in this lesson?
It transforms the adjective dunkel (dark) into a causative verb meaning "to make dark" or "to darken." It does this by adding the prefix ver- and a verb ending. Because dunkel already ends in -el, it just takes an -n instead of the full -en.
The lesson says these causative verbs often add an umlaut. Why is there no umlaut in verdunkeln?
While many adjectives get an umlaut in this construction (like groß becoming vergrößern or lang becoming verlängern), it isn't an absolute rule. The vowel in dunkel stays exactly the same. You simply have to memorize which words trigger the umlaut change and which, like verdunkeln, do not.
Why do we use um ... zu here instead of damit?
We use the infinitive construction um ... zu (in order to) because the subject doing both actions is the same: the impersonal pronoun man (one/you). You usually need damit (so that) when the subjects are different, such as: Ich verdunkle das Zimmer, damit du schlafen kannst (I darken the room so that you can sleep).
What does the pronoun sie refer to in the second clause?
It refers to die Wimpern (the eyelashes). Because Wimpern is plural, the accusative pronoun used for "them" is sie.
How is the word betonen formed?
It comes from the noun der Ton (tone, sound, or stress). Adding the prefix be- often turns a noun into a transitive verb (a verb that takes a direct object). By "putting a tone/stress" on the eyelashes, you are emphasizing them.
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