Log inSign up

Um eine Zeitschrift herunterzuladen, muss ich mein Passwort eingeben.

Um eine Zeitschrift herunterzuladen, muss ich mein Passwort eingeben.
To download a magazine I have to enter my password.
FromLesson 21inHardcore German
……

Questions & Answers about Um eine Zeitschrift herunterzuladen, muss ich mein Passwort eingeben.

How do you express “in order to” in German, as in “in order to download a magazine”?

You use the um … zu construction plus an infinitive. The pattern is:
• um + [object/phrase] + zu + infinitive
In your sentence:
• Um eine Zeitschrift herunterzuladen = “In order to download a magazine.”

Where does zu go when you have a separable verb like herunterladen?

With separable verbs in an infinitive (after um … zu or a modal), zu is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem.
• Prefix: herunter
• Stem: laden
• Infinitive with zu: herunter-zu-laden → written herunterzuladen

Why is herunterzuladen at the very end of that clause?
Purpose clauses with um … zu behave like subordinate clauses: the infinitive (including its separable prefix) goes to the end of the clause.
Why do we say Um … herunterzuladen, muss ich … instead of Um … herunterzuladen, ich muss …?

In German, when a clause or phrase comes first (here the um clause), you must invert the subject and finite verb in the next clause. That’s why we get:
• muss ich (finite verb first)
and then the rest follows.

Why does einzugeben come at the very end, and why is it not split into geben … ein?
Because muss is a modal verb, the main verb eingeben stays in the infinitive and goes to the clause-final position “as a block.” In infinitive constructions (after modals or um … zu), separable prefixes are not split off.
What case is eine Zeitschrift, and why does its article look the same in nominative and accusative?

eine Zeitschrift is the direct object of herunterladen, so it’s in the accusative case.
• Zeitschrift is feminine.
• Feminine singular indefinite article is eine in both nominative and accusative.

What case is mein Passwort, and does mein change its ending?

mein Passwort is also a direct object, so it’s accusative.
• Passwort is neuter.
• Neuter singular accusative has no ending on the possessive: mein Passwort remains mein Passwort.

Can I say runterladen instead of herunterladen?
Yes. runterladen is the colloquial, shortened form of the separable verb herunterladen. In formal writing, herunterladen is preferred, but both are correct.

More from this lesson

das Regalder RomanIm Regal der Bibliothek stehen viele neue Romane.der AutorEin Autor schreibt im Haus.dessenausleihenIch möchte ein Buch ausleihen.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How do German cases work?”
German has four grammatical cases: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object), and genitive (possession). The case determines the form of articles and adjectives. For example, "the dog" is "der Hund" as a subject but "den Hund" as a direct object.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning German

Master German — from Um eine Zeitschrift herunterzuladen, muss ich mein Passwort eingeben to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning German freeBrowse the full course