The infinitive structure with ohne..zu and (an)statt….zu in German

Infinitive constructions (Infinitivkonstruktionen) with ohne…zu and (an)statt……… zu are a special type of subordinate clause (Nebensatz) in which the subject of the clause has been omitted. They are also not dependent on the verb in the main clause (Hauptsatz). In today's article, we will learn together about how to use these two special infinitive constructions.

- The subject in the main clause (Hauptsatz) must be the same as the subject in the subordinate clause (Nebensatz) with ohne…zu and (an)statt...zu. In that case, the subject in the subordinate clause is omitted.

Der Autofahrer fährt in der Nacht Auto, ohne das Licht einzuschalten. (The driver drives at night without turning on the lights.)

Hans bleibt lieber zu Hause, anstatt seinem Freund zu helfen. (Hans would rather stay home than help his friend.)

| | Differences |

- This construction is used in place of negation. Both events and actions in the two clauses have taken place.

• Peter ist nach Hause gegangen, ohne sich zu verabschieden. (Peter went home without saying goodbye.)

→ Peter ist nach Hause gegangen. Er hat sich nicht verabschiedet.

• Er hat Deutsch gelernt, ohne einen Deutschkurs zu besuchen. (He learned German without attending a course.)

→ Er hat Deutsch gelernt. Er hat keinen Deutschkurs besucht.

• Er ist Auto gefahren, ohne einen Führerschein zu haben. (He drove a car without having a driver's license.)

→ Er ist Auto gefahren. Er hat keinen Führerschein.

|- This structure is used to express an event or action that is different, unexpected, or contrary to what was anticipated. The event or action in the main clause has already occurred. The subordinate clause describes an event or action that is not real with respect to the subject.

 + Ich bleibe zu Hause, statt mit meinen Freunden an den Strand zu gehen. (I stay home instead of going to the beach with my friends.)

→ Staying home is the action that has taken place — it is reality. Going to the beach, on the other hand, is the differing action, and it is not real for me.

 + Du solltest Hausaufgaben machen, anstatt den ganzen Tag Computerspiele zu spielen. (You should do your homework instead of playing computer games all day.)

→ The child is not doing their homework and is playing on the computer all day. This is the unexpected action. The child doing their homework is what is not real.

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!!! Note: When the subject of the main clause and the subject of the subordinate clause are different, we do not use the structure ohne…zu or anstatt….zu but instead use the structures ohne dass and anstatt dass

Meine Tochter ist eingeschlafen, ohne dass ich ihr ein Lied vorgesungen habe.

(My daughter fell asleep without me singing her a song.)

Anstatt dass er seine Hausaufgaben macht, geht er mit seinen Freunden ins Kino.

(Instead of doing his homework, he went to the cinema with his friends.)