Word order with modal verbs and multple clauses.

[jwwceo]

Hello,

I am learning German, or at least trying to, and I have a question about a sentence. I was trying to translate this:

That must be hard for you to hear.

One translation I got was similar to this:

Das muss hart für Sie sein, zu hören.

I am wondering why the "zu horen" is at the end. I was thinking that in a modal sentence the modified infinitive verb is always at the end. So in my mind I was thinking the "sein" should at the end and the sentence would look like this.

Das muss hart für Sie zu hören sein.

Can anyone tell me which is correct, and why? Is there a rule for this?

James
P.S. - I love listening to your podcasts in the car. These are the best ones Ive found yet

[Kobukuro]

Hi James!

Well, even if I am a native speaker, it is really difficult to explain.

That must be hard for you to hear.

First, I am not sure with the english meaning, but I guess you mean, that this, what you hear, is not nice and it's troublesome somehow.

The first which came in my mind was:

Das muss hart für Sie sein, (dieses) zu hören.

If you say:

Das muss hart für Sie zu hören sein - it sounds more like: It is difficult for you to listen (because your ears are not so well... maybe) .

I am very interested in, how a German teacher would explain it !

Kobukuro