Breakdown of Ich bin heute zu müde, um lange zu telefonieren.
Questions & Answers about Ich bin heute zu müde, um lange zu telefonieren.
Why are there two instances of the word zu?
They are two different words with the same form:
- In zu müde, zu is an adverb meaning “too.”
- In um … zu telefonieren, zu is the infinitive marker used in the um … zu + infinitive construction.
Is the comma before um required?
Can I drop um and say Ich bin heute zu müde, lange zu telefonieren?
Why is it um lange zu telefonieren and not um zu lange telefonieren?
- um lange zu telefonieren = “in order to phone for a long time,” where lange (for long) is an adverb modifying the action.
- zu lange telefonieren would mean “to phone too long,” with zu again meaning “too,” which changes the meaning.
Also, the infinitive marker zu belongs immediately with the verb: zu telefonieren.
Why lange and not lang?
As an adverb of duration, standard German prefers lange: lange telefonieren (“talk on the phone for a long time”).
Use lang after a specific measure: zwei Stunden lang telefonieren. Colloquial lang telefonieren exists but is less standard.
Can I say für lange to mean “for long”?
Generally no. Say lange on its own: … um lange zu telefonieren.
If you use für, you need a noun: für eine lange Zeit—but that sounds heavy here.
Why use telefonieren instead of anrufen?
- telefonieren = “to be on the phone; to have a phone conversation” (often with mit + Dative: mit dir telefonieren).
- anrufen = “to call (someone)” and takes a direct object: jemanden anrufen.
So “too tired to call you” is zu müde, um dich anzurufen, not … dich zu telefonieren.
Where does the infinitive zu go with separable verbs like anrufen?
Between the prefix and the verb stem: anzurufen (not “zuanrufen”).
Example: Ich bin zu müde, um dich anzurufen.
Can I say Ich bin heute zu müde zum Telefonieren?
Yes. zum = zu dem, and Telefonieren is a nominalized verb, so it’s capitalized.
To keep “for a long time,” you’d have to say zum langen Telefonieren, which is grammatical but a bit stiff; … um lange zu telefonieren sounds more natural.
Why is telefonieren lowercase here?
Can I move heute to another position?
Yes:
- Heute bin ich zu müde, um lange zu telefonieren. (fronted for emphasis)
- Ich bin zu müde, um heute lange zu telefonieren. (placing “today” inside the infinitive clause) All are natural; the meaning stays the same with slight shifts in emphasis.
Who is the subject of the um … zu clause?
It’s implicitly the same as the main-clause subject (ich here). If you need a different subject, you can’t use um … zu; you’d restructure, e.g.:
- Ich bin so müde, dass du besser nicht lange telefonierst. (different subject)
- More formal: Es ist zu spät, als dass wir noch lange telefonieren könnten.
Is there an alternative to express the idea without um … zu?
Yes, the so … dass pattern:
- Ich bin heute so müde, dass ich nicht lange telefonieren kann.
Same idea, but it states the consequence explicitly with dass and kann.
How would I say “I’m not too tired to talk for long”?
Ich bin heute nicht zu müde, um lange zu telefonieren.
Alternatively (neutral statement of ability): Ich kann heute lange telefonieren.
How do I include the person I’m talking with?
Use mit + Dative:
- Ich bin heute zu müde, um lange mit dir zu telefonieren.
This keeps telefonieren (intransitive) and adds the partner with mit.
How do you pronounce ü in müde?
More from this lesson
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning GermanMaster German — from Ich bin heute zu müde, um lange zu telefonieren 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