Breakdown of Ich warf altes Zeug weg, um endlich mehr Platz im Keller zu haben.
ich
I
alt
old
haben
to have
mehr
more
um...zu
in order to
im
in the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
endlich
finally
wegwerfen
to throw away
das Zeug
the stuff
der Platz
the space
der Keller
the basement
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ich warf altes Zeug weg, um endlich mehr Platz im Keller zu haben.
Why is the verb werfen in the past tense warf here?
German uses the simple past (Präteritum) for narrative or written style. Werfen is a strong verb, so its simple-past singular form is warf. The past participle would be geworfen, but in this sentence the speaker chose Präteritum (ich warf) rather than Perfekt.
Why is the particle weg placed at the end of the clause instead of next to the verb?
Wegwerfen is a separable verb. In main clauses its prefix weg detaches and moves to the end:
• Present: ich werfe … weg
• Simple past: ich warf … weg
What does altes Zeug mean and why is altes spelled with an “–es” ending?
Zeug means “stuff” or “things” in a general, uncountable sense. Zeug is a neuter noun, and in the accusative without an article, the adjective takes the weak ending –es. Hence altes Zeug = “old stuff.”
Why is there no article before altes Zeug?
Because Zeug is used as a mass noun here (you can’t count individual pieces), and German often omits the article with mass nouns when speaking generally: “old stuff” rather than “the old stuff.”
How does the construction um … zu work in this sentence?
Um … zu introduces a purpose clause (Finalsatz). Everything between um and zu is part of the infinitive clause that states the intention:
“I threw away old stuff in order to finally have more space in the basement.”
Why is haben in the infinitive form here instead of a finite verb like habe?
Purpose clauses with um … zu must use an infinitive with zu. You cannot insert a finite verb in such a clause. The infinitive zu haben expresses the desired result.
What nuance does endlich add to the sentence?
Endlich means “finally” or “at last.” It implies the speaker has long wanted more space and is relieved or eager that this goal is now achievable.
Why is im Keller used rather than in den Keller or in das Keller?
The preposition in with the dative case indicates location (“inside the basement”). In + dem Keller contracts to im Keller. You would use the accusative (in den Keller) only for movement into the basement, not for describing where the new space will be.