um … zu and damit: saying why
Give a purpose: um … zu when the subject stays the same, damit when it changes.
Part of the free A2 German course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
To say why or what for someone does something, German has two tools. Both translate English to, in order to or so that. Which one you use depends on who does the second action.
um … zu: the same person
If the subject of both parts is the same person, use um … zu + infinitive. Um opens the part, the infinitive with zu closes it. There is no subject in the um-part.
- Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Berlin zu arbeiten.I'm learning German to work in Berlin.
- Lena spart Geld, um ein Auto zu kaufen.Lena is saving money to buy a car.
- Wir stehen früh auf, um den ersten Zug zu nehmen.We get up early to catch the first train.
- Er geht in die Stadt, um einzukaufen.He's going into town to do some shopping.
Separable verbs put zu in the middle, as in zu + infinitive: um einzukaufen, um anzurufen.
damit: a different person
If someone else should do or experience the result, use damit with a full clause. The verb goes to the end, as after weil and dass (weil and dass: the verb goes to the end).
- Ich rufe dich an, damit du nicht allein bist.I'm calling you so that you're not alone.
- Sprich bitte langsam, damit alle dich verstehen.Please speak slowly so that everyone understands you.
- Die Eltern arbeiten viel, damit die Kinder studieren können.The parents work hard so that the children can go to university.
| Who does the second action? | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the same person | um … zu | Ich spare, um zu reisen. |
| someone else | damit + verb at the end | Ich spare, damit meine Tochter reisen kann. |
Damit is also possible with the same subject (Ich spare, damit ich reisen kann), but um … zu is shorter and more usual.
Asking why: wozu?
Wozu? asks about the purpose (what for?), and you answer with um … zu or damit. Warum? asks for the reason, and you usually answer with weil.
- Wozu brauchst du das Geld?What do you need the money for?
Never put für in front of a zu-infinitive. English for to is not German: say um … zu.
Common mistakes
Ich lerne, für die Prüfung zu bestehen.Say um die Prüfung zu bestehen.Ich spare, um meine Tochter zu reisen.Different people need damit: damit meine Tochter reisen kann.damit du verstehst es: the verb goes to the end, damit du es verstehst.um zu einkaufen: separable verbs take zu inside, um einzukaufen.um ich die Prüfung bestehe: um … zu has no subject and no conjugated verb.
Practice
- Ich gehe zur Bank, _____ Geld abzuheben.Options: um · damit · für · zu
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um — Same subject, zu-infinitive at the end: um … zu.
- Ich erkläre es noch einmal, _____ du es verstehst.Options: damit · um · um zu · für
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damit — Different subject (du), full clause: damit.
- Anna fährt nach Wien, um ihre Tante _____ (besuchen).
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zu besuchen
- Wir nehmen ein Taxi, um pünktlich am Flughafen _____ (ankommen).
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anzukommen — Separable verb: an-zu-kommen.