Ich trage den Regenschirm mit mir, um nicht nass zu werden.

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Breakdown of Ich trage den Regenschirm mit mir, um nicht nass zu werden.

• mit: with
• nicht: not
• den: the
• nass: wet
• tragen: to carry
• werden: to become
• um zu: in order to
• der Regenschirm: the umbrella
• mir: me

Questions & Answers about Ich trage den Regenschirm mit mir, um nicht nass zu werden.

Why is the article den used before Regenschirm?

den is the accusative form of the masculine definite article in German. When you say Ich trage den Regenschirm, the word Regenschirm is the direct object of tragen (to carry), so it needs the accusative case.

What does mit mir literally mean, and why is it used here?

mit mir literally translates to with me, showing that you have the umbrella physically on you or with you. It emphasizes that you’re carrying it around yourself rather than leaving it somewhere else.

What is the purpose of um nicht nass zu werden?

The construction um ... zu ... in German expresses purpose or intention. So um nicht nass zu werden means in order not to get wet. It's explaining the goal or reason for carrying the umbrella.

Why is werden at the end of the sentence?

In German, an infinitive with zu (and any accompanying particles like nicht) appears at the end of the clause. So in um nicht nass zu werden, the entire zu-infinitive zu werden must be placed at the end.