The idea
Learn the complete construction ohne, including its Akkusativ complement. The preposition ohne belongs to the construction; do not infer its case from English. In a yes/no question the finite verb moves before the subject, while the complement keeps its case.
| Pattern | Case |
|---|---|
| ohne | Akkusativ |
Repair the complement
Ich komme ohne meinem Rucksack.Ich komme ohne meinen Rucksack.Ohne takes accusative, so the masculine possessive form is meinen.
Examples
- Ich lese den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch.I read the short text without a dictionary.
- Lese ich den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch?Do I read the short text without a dictionary?
- Die Gruppe startet ohne den fehlenden Karton.The group starts without the missing box.
- Startet die Gruppe ohne den fehlenden Karton?Does the group start without the missing box?
- Wir gehen ohne große Taschen durch die Ausstellung.We walk through the exhibition without large bags.
- Gehen wir ohne große Taschen durch die Ausstellung?Do we walk through the exhibition without large bags?
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Watch out
Ohne takes accusative, so the masculine possessive form is meinen.
Try it yourself
ohne — case of the complement?
Show answer or example answer
Akkusativ
Akkusativ: this is the required case in ohne.
Correct this: Ich komme ohne meinem Rucksack.
Show answer or example answer
Ich komme ohne meinen Rucksack.
Ich komme ohne meinen Rucksack. Ohne takes accusative, so the masculine possessive form is meinen.
Turn this into a yes/no question: Ich lese den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch.
Show answer or example answer
Lese ich den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch?
Lese ich den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch? The finite verb comes first; the complement keeps its case.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
ohne — case of the complement?
Correct this: Ich komme ohne meinem Rucksack.
Ich komme ohne meinen Rucksack.
Turn this into a yes/no question: Ich lese den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch.
Lese ich den kurzen Text ohne ein Wörterbuch?
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write two sentences about your own week with ohne: a statement and the matching yes/no question. The word order changes, but the complement stays in the Akkusativ; compare both with “Ich komme ohne meinen Rucksack.”.