Breakdown of Ich erinnere mich viel zu selten daran, das Ladegerät mitzunehmen.
ich
I
mich
me
erinnern an
to remember
viel zu selten
far too rarely
das Ladegerät
the charger
mitnehmen
to take along
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Questions & Answers about Ich erinnere mich viel zu selten daran, das Ladegerät mitzunehmen.
What is the role of the reflexive pronoun mich in the sentence?
The verb sich erinnern is reflexive in German, meaning “to remember” (literally, “to remind oneself”). In this sentence, mich shows that the action of remembering is directed at the speaker. Without the reflexive pronoun, the construction would be incomplete.
Why is the word daran used before the infinitive clause instead of directly linking the two parts?
The verb sich erinnern normally pairs with the preposition an (i.e., sich an etwas erinnern). Here, daran is a pronominal substitute for “an that” and links the main clause to the infinitive clause das Ladegerät mitzunehmen. It acts as a bridge between “remembering” and what is being remembered.
Why is there a comma between daran and das Ladegerät mitzunehmen?
In German grammar, an infinitive clause (especially one that explains or completes the main clause) is usually set off by a comma. The comma here indicates that das Ladegerät mitzunehmen is an additional explanation of what the speaker rarely remembers.
What does the adverbial phrase viel zu selten mean, and how does it modify the sentence?
The phrase viel zu selten translates to “far too rarely” or “too infrequently.” It emphasizes that the speaker seldom remembers to take the charger. Its placement directly after mich modifies the entire act of remembering, highlighting the insufficiency in frequency.
What is the function of the infinitive clause das Ladegerät mitzunehmen in this sentence?
The infinitive clause das Ladegerät mitzunehmen specifies the content of what is being remembered. It explains what the speaker should remember to do (i.e., to take the charger), functioning as the object of the verb via the linking pronoun daran.
Why does the verb mitnehmen appear as one word at the end of the sentence, and what does the prefix mit- contribute to its meaning?
Mitnehmen is a separable verb in German meaning “to take along” or “to bring with.” In this infinitive construction, the entire verb remains attached at the end of the sentence. The prefix mit- adds the sense of “along with” to the action, clarifying that the charger is intended to be taken along.
Could the sentence be written without daran, such as “Ich erinnere mich viel zu selten das Ladegerät mitzunehmen”? Why or why not?
No, omitting daran would make the sentence grammatically incorrect. The construction sich an etwas erinnern requires the preposition an. When an infinitive clause is used to express the content of the memory, daran is needed to stand in for “an it.” Without it, the sentence loses the necessary link between the main clause and the infinitive clause.