what is it?
German has three closely related structures for expressing the means or manner by which something is done: the subordinating conjunction indem (introducing a finite subordinate clause), its correlate variant dadurch, dass (a split construction with the pronoun dadurch in the main clause and dass introducing the subordinate clause), and the preposition durch followed by a noun phrase in the accusative. All three answer the question «Wie? / Wodurch?» (How? / By what means?). A fourth, negative-manner structure — ohne dass / ohne … zu — states that something happens without a particular accompanying action.
when to use it
indem + subordinate clause — use when the means is itself a full action with its own subject, which is typically (but not necessarily) the same as the main-clause subject. Modern German uses indem exclusively in this instrumental sense; the old temporal sense («while/as») is archaic.
dadurch, dass + subordinate clause — use when you want to place extra emphasis on the means, or when the dadurch needs to occupy a specific position in the main clause (e.g. after a causal or contrastive connector). It is interchangeable with indem in most contexts.
durch + accusative noun phrase — use when the means can be expressed as a noun (often a nominalised infinitive or an abstract noun). This is the most compact option and is common in formal and written registers.
ohne dass / ohne … zu — use to express that the main action occurs without the action in the subordinate clause taking place. Use ohne dass when the subjects differ; use ohne … zu + infinitive when the subjects are identical.
formation
The table below summarises how each structure is built. «S» = subject, «V» = finite verb.
| structure | word order in subordinate/noun phrase | example frame |
|---|---|---|
| indem + clause | verb moves to final position | …, indem S … V. |
| dadurch, dass + clause | verb moves to final position | S V dadurch, dass S … V. |
| durch + accusative NP | no clause; noun phrase follows directly | durch [Artikel] Nomen |
| ohne dass + clause | verb moves to final position | …, ohne dass S … V. |
| ohne + zu + infinitive | infinitive at end; same subject as main clause | …, ohne … zu + Infinitiv. |
When dadurch appears in the main clause, the dass-clause is separated from it by a comma. The comma before indem and ohne dass is always required in German.
examples in context
common pitfalls
V2 order inside an indem-clause. Learners sometimes treat indem like a coordinating conjunction and keep the verb in second position. This is wrong. indem is a subordinating conjunction: the finite verb must go to the end. ✗ «…, indem man spricht sie täglich.» ✓ «…, indem man sie täglich spricht.»
Using a finite clause after durch. durch is a preposition and must be followed by a noun phrase, never by a clause with a conjugated verb. ✗ «*durch man täglich übt» ✓ «durch tägliches Üben» or switch to «indem man täglich übt».
Assuming indem can mean «while» or «as». In older literary German, indem was used temporally (≈ «while»). In modern standard German this usage is obsolete. indem now signals means/manner only. For simultaneity, use während instead.
A quick self-check: after indem or ohne dass, the finite verb must be the last element in its clause. After durch, the next word must be a noun, article, or adjective — never a pronoun acting as a subject.
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
___ konnte sie die Kosten für die Kleidung deutlich senken. (regelmäßiger Preisvergleich)
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the noun phrase in parentheses.