Breakdown of Der Dirigent fordert den Chor auf, gemeinsam einzuatmen.
zu
to (infinitive marker)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
gemeinsam
together (jointly, mutually)
der Dirigent
the conductor
Questions & Answers about Der Dirigent fordert den Chor auf, gemeinsam einzuatmen.
Who is the implied subject of einzuatmen, and how do we know?
The implied subject is den Chor (the choir). This sentence demonstrates the object identity rule for infinitive clauses. Because the main verb auffordern takes an accusative object (den Chor), that object automatically becomes the implied subject of the zu clause. It is the choir that breathes in, not the conductor.
Could we express this with a dass clause instead?
Yes, you could say: Der Dirigent fordert den Chor auf, dass er gemeinsam einatmet. However, when the object of the main clause matches the subject of the dependent clause, German speakers strongly prefer using a shortened zu infinitive clause because it sounds much more natural and elegant.
Why is the word zu stuck in the middle of einzuatmen?
Because einatmen (to breathe in) is a separable verb. When forming a zu infinitive with a separable verb, the zu is sandwiched between the separable prefix (ein) and the verb stem (atmen), combining them into one single word.
I know fordern means to demand. Is the conductor forcefully demanding them to breathe?
Not quite! The verb here is the separable verb auffordern. While related to fordern, jemanden auffordern is less aggressive. It translates best as to request, to prompt, or to formally ask someone to do something.