um...zu / ohne...zu
Um ... zu means in order to and expresses purpose, ohne ... zu means without doing something, and anstatt or statt ... zu means instead of doing something. All three wrap around the clause: the connector opens it, any objects follow, and zu plus the infinitive closes it — Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten.
Express purpose and manner with infinitive clauses.
Rules & Explanations
um zu ohne zu Introduction
Einführung: um zu, ohne zu, anstatt zu
IN order to learn, without learning, instead of learning — German uses special constructions: um ... zu, ohne ... zu, anstatt ... zu. These express purpose, absence, and alternatives!
German uses um ... zu (in order to), ohne ... zu (without doing), anstatt/statt ... zu (instead of doing). The infinitive always goes to the end!
English: in order to (purpose), without + -ing (absence), instead of + -ing (alternative).
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten.
I learn German in order to work in Germany.
um starts the clause, zu + infinitive at the end.
These constructions let you express purpose, contrast, and alternatives — essential for complex communication!
um ... zu (in order to)
um ... zu (um zu)
um ... zu = in order to. Expresses purpose. um starts, zu + infinitive at the end.
um ... zu = um zu. Drückt Zweck aus. um am Anfang, zu + Infinitiv am Ende.
| German | English | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten. | I learn German in order to work in Germany. | purpose/goal |
| Er spart Geld, um ein Auto zu kaufen. | He saves money in order to buy a car. | purpose/goal |
| Sie geht früh ins Bett, um fit zu sein. | She goes to bed early in order to be fit. | purpose/goal |
um ... zu = in order to. um opens, zu + infinitive closes. Why are you doing it? → um ... zu!
um = start of purpose clause. zu + infinitive = end. Everything else in between.
Common Mistakes
-
✗ Ich lerne Deutsch um zu in Deutschland arbeiten.
✓ Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten.
zu comes directly before the infinitive at the end: um ... zu arbeiten.
ohne ... zu (without doing)
ohne ... zu (ohne zu)
ohne ... zu = without doing. English uses -ing, German uses zu + infinitive.
ohne ... zu = ohne zu tun. Englisch benutzt -ing, Deutsch zu + Infinitiv.
| German | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Er ging, ohne zu bezahlen. | He left without paying. | absence of action |
| Sie arbeitet, ohne Pause zu machen. | She works without taking a break. | absence of action |
| Er hat geantwortet, ohne nachzudenken. | He answered without thinking. | absence of action |
ohne ... zu = without + -ing. Er ging, ohne zu bezahlen = He left without paying.
English: without + -ing. German: ohne ... zu + infinitive.
Common Mistakes
-
✗ Er ging ohne bezahlen.
✓ Er ging, ohne zu bezahlen.
ohne needs zu! ohne ... zu + infinitive.
anstatt/statt ... zu (instead of doing)
anstatt/statt ... zu
anstatt/statt ... zu = instead of doing. Both forms are correct.
anstatt/statt ... zu = anstatt zu tun. Beide Formen sind richtig.
| German | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Anstatt zu arbeiten, spielt er. | Instead of working, he plays. | alternative action |
| Statt zu Hause zu bleiben, ging sie aus. | Instead of staying home, she went out. | alternative action |
| Er liest, anstatt fernzusehen. | He reads instead of watching tv. | alternative action |
anstatt/statt ... zu = instead of + -ing. What you do not do + what you do instead.
English: instead of + -ing. German: anstatt/statt ... zu + infinitive.
Common Mistakes
-
✗ Anstatt arbeiten, spielt er.
✓ Anstatt zu arbeiten, spielt er.
anstatt needs zu! anstatt ... zu + infinitive.
With Separable Verbs
Mit trennbaren Verben
Same rule as before: zu goes in the middle of separable verbs!
Gleiche Regel: zu geht in die Mitte von trennbaren Verben!
| Construction | Separable Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| um ... zu | anrufen → anzurufen | um dich anzurufen |
| ohne ... zu | aufstehen → aufzustehen | ohne aufzustehen |
| anstatt ... zu | fernsehen → fernzusehen | anstatt fernzusehen |
Separable verbs: um ... anzurufen, ohne ... aufzustehen, anstatt ... fernzusehen.
Prefix + zu + verb = one word. anzurufen, aufzustehen, fernzusehen.
Same Subject Rule
Gleiches Subjekt
um/ohne/anstatt ... zu can only be used when both clauses have the same subject! If subjects are different, use damit/ohne dass/anstatt dass instead.
um/ohne/anstatt ... zu nur wenn Beide Sätze das Gleiche Subjekt haben! Bei verschiedenen Subjekten: damit/ohne dass/anstatt dass.
Same subject: um zu. Different subjects: damit + conjugated verb.
Ich lerne, um zu verstehen. (I learn, I understand = same subject) vs. Ich erkläre es, damit du verstehst. (I explain, you understand = different subjects)
Examples
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten.
I learn German in order to work in Germany.
um ... zu arbeitenum ... zu = purpose. Why learn German? To work in Germany.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich lerne | I learn |
| Deutsch | German |
| um | in order |
| in Deutschland | in Germany |
| zu arbeiten | to work |
Er spart Geld, um ein Auto zu kaufen.
He saves money in order to buy a car.
um ... zu kaufenum ... zu = purpose. Why save? To buy a car.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er spart | He saves |
| Geld | money |
| um | in order |
| ein Auto | a car |
| zu kaufen | to buy |
Sie ging, ohne sich zu verabschieden.
She left without saying goodbye.
ohne ... zu verabschiedenohne ... zu = without doing. sich verabschieden is reflexive.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sie ging | She left |
| ohne | without |
| sich | herself |
| zu verabschieden | to say goodbye |
Er arbeitet, ohne Pause zu machen.
He works without taking a break.
ohne ... zu machenohne ... zu = without doing something.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er arbeitet | He works |
| ohne | without |
| Pause | break |
| zu machen | to take/make |
Anstatt zu lernen, spielt er Computerspiele.
Instead of studying, he plays computer games.
Anstatt zu lernenanstatt ... zu = instead of doing. What he does NOT do + what he DOES.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Anstatt | Instead of |
| zu lernen | studying |
| spielt er | he plays |
| Computerspiele | computer games |
Ich bin hier, um dir zu helfen.
I am here in order to help you.
um ... zu helfenum ... zu = purpose. Why am I here? To help you.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich bin | I am |
| hier | here |
| um | in order |
| dir | you |
| zu helfen | to help |
Er hat geantwortet, ohne nachzudenken.
He answered without thinking.
ohne nachzudenkenohne ... zu with separable verb: nach-zu-denken.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Er hat geantwortet | He answered |
| ohne | without |
| nachzudenken | thinking |
Statt fernzusehen, lese ich ein Buch.
Instead of watching TV, I read a book.
Statt fernzusehenstatt ... zu with separable verb: fern-zu-sehen.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Statt | Instead of |
| fernzusehen | watching TV |
| lese ich | I read |
| ein Buch | a book |
Practice Exercises
8 interactive exercises
Ich lerne Deutsch, ___ in Deutschland zu arbeiten.
I learn German in order to work in Germany.
You got on this topic's exercises.
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Passive Voice (Present)
Form passive with werden + past participle.
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Common questions about um zu and ohne zu
How do I say in order to in German?
Use um ... zu. The word um opens the clause, and zu plus the infinitive closes it: Er spart Geld, um ein Auto zu kaufen. It answers the question warum? or wozu? and always states a purpose. English often drops the in order and says just to, but German still needs the full um ... zu frame.
What is the difference between um zu and damit?
Both express purpose, but um ... zu requires the same subject in both halves: Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu arbeiten. When the subjects differ you must use damit with a full clause: Ich erkläre es langsam, damit du mich verstehst. If in doubt, damit always works; um ... zu only works with a shared subject.
How does ohne zu work in German?
Ohne ... zu describes an action that does not accompany the main one, and it matches the English without plus -ing: Er ging, ohne zu bezahlen (he left without paying). Objects sit between the two parts: Sie arbeitet, ohne Pause zu machen. With separable verbs the zu goes inside: ohne nachzudenken.
When do I use anstatt zu or statt zu?
Use them to name the action someone did not do, replaced by another: Anstatt zu arbeiten, spielt er (instead of working, he plays). Both spellings are correct and interchangeable. As with um and ohne, the clause needs the same subject as the main sentence, and separable verbs take zu inside: anstatt fernzusehen.
Does the verb go to the end with um zu?
Yes — the infinitive with zu always lands at the very end of its clause, and everything else comes before it: Sie geht früh ins Bett, um fit zu sein. If the um-clause starts the sentence, the main clause follows with its verb in second position after the comma. A comma before um is always required.