Breakdown of Ich fahre dorthin, um frisches Brot zu kaufen.
das Brot
the bread
ich
I
kaufen
to buy
frisch
fresh
fahren
to drive
um
in order to
dorthin
there
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ich fahre dorthin, um frisches Brot zu kaufen.
What does the adverb dorthin mean in this sentence?
Dorthin functions as a directional adverb meaning “to there.” It is used to indicate the destination of the action—answering the question “to where are you going?”
What is the purpose of the um ... zu construction in this sentence?
The um ... zu construction is used to express purpose or intention. In this sentence, um frisches Brot zu kaufen translates to “in order to buy fresh bread,” explaining why the speaker is traveling there.
Why is the verb kaufen placed at the end of the purpose clause?
In German, subordinate clauses and purpose clauses using um ... zu typically place the verb at the end. This word order is a standard rule that helps clarify the structure and meaning of the sentence.
Why is there a comma before um frisches Brot zu kaufen?
German grammar requires a comma to separate the main clause from its subordinate clause. Here, the comma before um frisches Brot zu kaufen clearly demarcates the purpose clause from the main clause Ich fahre dorthin.
How is the adjective frisches correctly declined in this sentence?
Since Brot is a neuter noun and appears in the accusative case—with no preceding article—the adjective frisch takes the strong ending -es, resulting in frisches. This ending properly agrees with the noun’s gender and case.