Clauses of manner (Modalsätze) answer the question "Wie?" (By what means?) or express an action that accompanies/replaces another action.

1️⃣ Overview

2️⃣ Each structure in detail

Structure: Hauptsatz, indem + Subjekt + ... + Verb (at the end of the clause)

Example	Meaning
Man kann Deutsch lernen, indem man jeden Tag übt.	You can learn German by practicing every day.
Er hat die Prüfung bestanden, indem er viel gelernt hat.	He passed the exam by studying a lot.
Sie spart Geld, indem sie weniger ausgibt.	She saves money by spending less.

ℹ️ Note

📌 indem is used to express manner (by doing something). The two clauses can have the same or different subjects.

Similar in meaning to indem but emphasizes the means/cause.

Example	Meaning
Dadurch, dass er jeden Tag liest, verbessert er sein Deutsch.	Through the fact that he reads every day, he improves his German.
Die Stadt wird sauberer, dadurch, dass man den Müll trennt.	The city becomes cleaner through the fact that people separate their waste.

ℹ️ Note

📌 dadurch, dass is more formal than indem, and is often found in written language.

Expresses an action that does not occur alongside the main action.

Two different subjects → ohne dass + Verb at the end of the clause:

Example	Meaning
Er ging weg, ohne dass sie es bemerkte.	He left without her noticing.
Das Kind spielte draußen, ohne dass die Mutter es wusste.	The child played outside without the mother knowing.

Same subject → ohne zu + Infinitiv:

Example	Meaning
Er ging weg, ohne sich zu verabschieden.	He left without saying goodbye.
Sie aß, ohne etwas zu sagen.	She ate without saying anything.

Expresses a replacing action — an action that was supposed to happen but does not.

Two different subjects → anstatt dass + Verb at the end of the clause:

Example	Meaning
Anstatt dass er lernt, spielt er Computerspiele.	Instead of studying, he plays computer games.

Same subject → anstatt zu + Infinitiv:

Example	Meaning
Anstatt zu lernen, spielt er Computerspiele.	Instead of studying, he plays computer games.
Sie ging ins Kino, anstatt für die Prüfung zu lernen.	She went to the cinema instead of studying for the exam.

:::

ohne zu / anstatt zu are only used when the subjects are the same!

✅ Er ging weg, ohne sich zu verabschieden. (same "er")
❌ ~~Er ging weg, ohne zu sie bemerkte.~~ → WRONG! Different subjects → use ohne dass :::

	indem	dadurch, dass
Meaning	by (doing)	through the fact that
Emphasis	the way it is done	the means / cause
Formality	normal	more formal
Example	Man lernt, indem man übt.	Dadurch, dass man übt, lernt man.

ℹ️ Note

💡

indem = by doing → answers "Wie?"
dadurch, dass = through the fact that → more formal than indem
ohne dass / ohne zu = without → accompanying negation
anstatt dass / anstatt zu = instead of → replacing action
Same subject → use zu + Infinitiv, different subject → use dass + Verb at the end of the clause

ℹ️ Exercise

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