Breakdown of Zum einen ist es zu teuer, zum anderen zu weit.
sein
to be
teuer
expensive
weit
far / wide, vast
zu
too (e.g., too big)
zum einen ... zum anderen
for one thing ... for another
Questions & Answers about Zum einen ist es zu teuer, zum anderen zu weit.
How does the structure zum einen ..., zum anderen ... work?
This is a common two-part connector meaning 'for one thing..., for another...' or 'on the one hand..., on the other hand...'. It is used to list two different reasons, aspects, or sides of an argument. It helps structure your thoughts clearly, which is a great skill for B1 speaking and writing.
Why isn't there a verb or subject in the second half of the sentence (zum anderen zu weit)?
To avoid repetition, German often drops the subject and verb in the second half of a sentence if they are exactly the same as in the first half. The complete thought is: Zum einen ist es zu teuer, zum anderen ist es zu weit. English does the exact same thing in the translation!
Can I use einerseits ..., andererseits instead?
They are very similar and often interchangeable, but there is a slight difference in flavor. zum einen ..., zum anderen is usually preferred when simply listing two points or reasons (like two reasons why we shouldn't take this trip). einerseits ..., andererseits is better suited for contrasting two conflicting ideas or weighing pros and cons.
Why are einen and anderen written with lowercase letters if they follow zum?
Usually, a word following a combined preposition and article like zum (zu dem) is a capitalized noun. However, einen and anderen function as indefinite pronouns here. While modern spelling rules actually allow you to capitalize them (zum Einen, zum Anderen), keeping them lowercase is still the traditional and most common way they are written.
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