A1 Prepositions 6 min read Easy

Without (ohne): The Accusative Preposition

Always pair ohne with the Accusative case to describe things that are missing or excluded.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The preposition 'ohne' always forces the following noun into the Accusative case.

  • Use 'ohne' to mean 'without'. Example: 'Ich trinke Kaffee ohne {die|f} Milch.'
  • The noun after 'ohne' must be in the Accusative case. Example: 'Ohne {den|m} Zucker.'
  • If the noun is feminine, neuter, or plural, the article often stays the same as Nominative. Example: 'Ohne {das|n} Brot.'
ohne + [Accusative Noun]

Overview

Ohne is a fundamental German preposition meaning “without.” It denotes the absence, lack, or exclusion of something or someone. Crucially for learners, ohne belongs to a small group of prepositions that invariably govern the accusative case. This consistent case requirement simplifies its usage significantly compared to two-way prepositions that fluctuate between accusative and dative.

Understanding ohne is essential for constructing sentences that express negation, conditions, or the absence of necessary components. For instance, you might say, Ich trinke Kaffee ohne die Milch (I drink coffee without milk) or Er kam ohne den(m) Regenschirm (He came without the umbrella). This direct link to the accusative case is a cornerstone of German grammar for A1 learners, providing a predictable structure in sentence formation.

How This Grammar Works

When you use ohne, the noun or pronoun that follows it must always be in the accusative case. This is the core rule. The accusative case primarily marks the direct object of a verb, but it is also triggered by specific prepositions like ohne.
For nouns, the article preceding the noun changes to reflect the accusative case and gender. For pronouns, the accusative form of the pronoun is used.
Only masculine nouns with their articles undergo a visible change from the nominative to the accusative case. Feminine, neuter, and plural nouns retain the same article forms as in the nominative case. This pattern is a significant point of clarification for beginners, as it means less memorization for most genders.
For example:
  • der Mann (nominative masculine) becomes den(m) Mann (accusative masculine).
  • die Frau (nominative feminine) remains die Frau (accusative feminine).
  • das Kind (nominative neuter) remains das Kind (accusative neuter).
  • die(f,pl) Kinder (nominative plural) remains die(f,pl) Kinder (accusative plural).
When ohne is followed by a personal pronoun, you must use the accusative form of that pronoun. These forms are distinct from the nominative and dative forms and must be committed to memory. For example, ich (I) becomes mich (me) in the accusative, and du (you, singular informal) becomes dich (you, singular informal accusative).
Consider the sentence Ich kann ohne dich nicht leben (I cannot live without you). Here, dich is the accusative form of du, correctly following ohne. Understanding these specific changes for articles and pronouns is fundamental to correctly applying ohne in spoken and written German.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation pattern for sentences involving ohne is straightforward: ohne + Accusative Object. The object can be a noun phrase (article + noun) or an accusative pronoun. The key is ensuring the object is correctly declined into the accusative case.
2
1. Nouns with Definite Articles:
3
For nouns, you apply the accusative form of the definite article (der, die, das, die plural) according to the noun's gender:
4
| Gender | Nominative Article | Accusative Article | Example with ohne | Translation |
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| :-------- | :----------------- | :----------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------- |
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| Masculine | der | den(m) | Der Kaffee ist ohne den Zucker. | The coffee is without the sugar. |
7
| Feminine | die | die | Ich trinke Tee ohne die Milch. | I drink tea without the milk. |
8
| Neuter | das | das | Sie fährt ohne das Auto zur Arbeit. | She drives without the car to work. |
9
| Plural | die(f,pl) | die(f,pl) | Wir gehen ohne die Kinder ins Restaurant. | We go without the children to the restaurant. |
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2. Nouns with Indefinite Articles:
11
Similarly, for nouns with indefinite articles (ein, eine, ein), only the masculine form changes in the accusative:
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| Gender | Nominative Article | Accusative Article | Example with ohne | Translation |
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| :-------- | :----------------- | :----------------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------- |
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| Masculine | ein | einen | Ich sehe einen Film ohne einen Plot. | I see a film without a plot. |
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| Feminine | eine | eine | Er kocht ohne eine Zwiebel. | He cooks without an onion. |
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| Neuter | ein | ein | Sie macht Sport ohne ein Handtuch. | She does sports without a towel. |
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3. Nouns without Articles (Zero Article):
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When referring to general concepts, mass nouns (like Milch, Wasser, Geld), or certain professions, articles are often omitted. In such cases, ohne is simply followed by the noun in its base form. This is common and sounds very natural.
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Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Milch. (I drink coffee without milk.)
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Er hat heute ohne Geld eingekauft. (He shopped today without money.)
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Man kann ohne Liebe nicht leben. (One cannot live without love.)
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4. Personal Pronouns:
23
For personal pronouns, you must use their specific accusative forms:
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| Nominative | Accusative | Example with ohne | Translation |
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| :--------- | :--------- | :------------------------------ | :------------------------------- |\
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| ich | mich | Sie gehen ohne mich. | They are going without me. |\
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| du | dich | Ich fahre ohne dich. | I am driving without you. |\
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| er | ihn | Wir essen ohne ihn. | We are eating without him. |\
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| sie | sie | Er arbeitet ohne sie. | He works without her. |\
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| es | es | Das ist schwer ohne es. | That is difficult without it. |\
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| wir | uns | Ihr reist ohne uns. | You (plural) travel without us. |\
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| ihr | euch | Wir spielen ohne euch. | We play without you (plural). |\
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| sie (pl) | sie (pl) | Sie leben ohne sie. | They live without them. |\
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| Sie (pol) | Sie (pol) | Darf ich ohne Sie gehen? | May I go without you (formal)? |
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These patterns provide a complete framework for integrating ohne into your German sentences, covering all common grammatical situations an A1 learner will encounter.

When To Use It

Ohne is a versatile preposition used in numerous contexts to express the absence, lack, or exclusion of something. Mastering its usage significantly enhances your ability to communicate nuanced meanings in German. Here are its primary applications:
  • Expressing Absence or Lack: This is the most direct use of ohne. You use it to state that a person, object, or quality is not present.
  • Ich kann ohne mein Handy nicht leben. (I cannot live without my phone.)
  • Der Kaffee ist ohne Zucker. (The coffee is without sugar / The coffee has no sugar.)
  • Sie ist ohne Angst. (She is without fear / She has no fear.)
  • Describing Conditions or Circumstances: Ohne can introduce a condition under which something happens or doesn't happen.
  • Ohne Fleiß kein Preis. (No pain, no gain. / Without diligence, no prize.) - A common German proverb.
  • Er kann ohne Brille nicht lesen. (He cannot read without glasses.)
  • Denoting Exclusion or Exception: When something is explicitly left out.
  • Alle kamen, ohne ihn. (Everyone came, without him.) - ihn is the accusative pronoun for er.
  • Wir buchten die Reise ohne das Frühstück. (We booked the trip without breakfast.)
  • In Fixed Expressions and Collocations: Ohne appears in many idiomatic phrases that are essential for natural conversation.
  • Ohne Zweifel (Without a doubt)
  • Ohne Ende (Without end / endlessly)
  • Ohne Wenn und Aber (Without ifs and buts / absolutely)
  • With Infinitives (ohne zu + Infinitiv): For advanced A2/B1 learners, ohne can combine with zu and an infinitive to express

Accusative Articles with 'ohne'

Gender Nominative Accusative (after 'ohne')
Masculine
der
den
Feminine
die
die
Neuter
das
das
Plural
die
die

Meanings

The preposition 'ohne' indicates the absence of something or someone.

1

Absence

Lacking a specific object or person.

“Ich trinke Tee ohne {den|m} Zucker.”

“Ohne {die|f} Hilfe kann ich das nicht machen.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Without (ohne): The Accusative Preposition
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
ohne + Accusative
Ich trinke ohne den Zucker.
Negative
nicht + ohne + Accusative
Ich gehe nicht ohne den Hund.
Question
Ohne + Accusative + ?
Ohne den Zucker?
Short Answer
Ohne + Accusative
Ohne den Zucker, bitte.
Plural
ohne + die
Ohne die Freunde.
Neuter
ohne + das
Ohne das Brot.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich hätte gerne den Kaffee ohne den Zucker.

Ich hätte gerne den Kaffee ohne den Zucker. (Ordering)

Neutral
Ich möchte Kaffee ohne Zucker.

Ich möchte Kaffee ohne Zucker. (Ordering)

Informal
Kaffee ohne Zucker, bitte.

Kaffee ohne Zucker, bitte. (Ordering)

Slang
Kaffee schwarz.

Kaffee schwarz. (Ordering)

The Ohne Map

ohne

Masculine

  • den the

Feminine

  • die the

Neuter

  • das the

Article Change

Masculine
den the
Others
die/das the
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Examples by Level

1

Ich trinke Kaffee ohne {den|m} Zucker.

I drink coffee without sugar.

2

Das ist ohne {die|f} Hilfe.

That is without help.

3

Wir gehen ohne {das|n} Kind.

We go without the child.

4

Ohne {die|f} Freunde ist es langweilig.

Without friends it is boring.

1

Er fährt ohne {den|m} Bus zur Arbeit.

He goes to work without the bus.

2

Ich möchte Pizza ohne {die|f} Salami.

I would like pizza without salami.

3

Ohne {das|n} Geld können wir nichts kaufen.

Without money we can buy nothing.

4

Sie lernt ohne {die|f} Musik.

She studies without music.

1

Ohne {einen|m} Plan ist das Projekt schwierig.

Without a plan the project is difficult.

2

Er verließ den Raum ohne {ein|n} Wort.

He left the room without a word.

3

Ohne {die|f} Erlaubnis darfst du nicht gehen.

Without permission you may not go.

4

Wir schaffen das ohne {den|m} Stress.

We will manage that without the stress.

1

Ohne {den|m} nötigen Respekt wird die Diskussion scheitern.

Without the necessary respect, the discussion will fail.

2

Sie hat den Vertrag ohne {die|f} Unterschrift zurückgegeben.

She returned the contract without the signature.

3

Ohne {das|n} Risiko gibt es keinen Erfolg.

Without risk there is no success.

4

Er arbeitet ohne {die|f} Unterstützung seiner Kollegen.

He works without the support of his colleagues.

1

Ohne {den|m} geringsten Zweifel ist dies die beste Lösung.

Without the slightest doubt, this is the best solution.

2

Sie agierte ohne {die|f} vorherige Absprache.

She acted without prior consultation.

3

Ohne {das|n} Wissen der Beteiligten wurde entschieden.

The decision was made without the knowledge of those involved.

4

Ohne {die|f} notwendigen Ressourcen ist das Ziel unerreichbar.

Without the necessary resources, the goal is unreachable.

1

Ohne {den|m} Beistand der Götter war das Unterfangen zum Scheitern verurteilt.

Without the assistance of the gods, the endeavor was doomed to fail.

2

Ohne {die|f} explizite Zustimmung ist der Eingriff unzulässig.

Without explicit consent, the intervention is inadmissible.

3

Ohne {das|n} geringste Zögern ergriff er die Initiative.

Without the slightest hesitation, he took the initiative.

4

Ohne {die|f} konsequente Umsetzung der Reformen bleibt der Erfolg aus.

Without consistent implementation of the reforms, success will not materialize.

Easily Confused

Without (ohne): The Accusative Preposition vs ohne vs. nicht

Learners use 'nicht' for nouns.

Without (ohne): The Accusative Preposition vs ohne vs. aus

Both mean 'out of' or 'without'.

Without (ohne): The Accusative Preposition vs ohne vs. gegen

Both are Accusative.

Common Mistakes

✗

ohne der Zucker

✓

ohne den Zucker

Masculine nouns must be Accusative.
✗

ohne Zucker (missing article)

✓

ohne den Zucker (if specific)

Sometimes articles are needed.
✗

ohne das Hund

✓

ohne den Hund

Hund is masculine.
✗

ich ohne Zucker

✓

ich trinke ohne Zucker

Need a verb.
✗

ohne einen Zucker

✓

ohne den Zucker

Using indefinite instead of definite.
✗

ohne den Milch

✓

ohne die Milch

Milch is feminine.
✗

ohne dem Zucker

✓

ohne den Zucker

Dative instead of Accusative.
✗

ohne dass ich gehe

✓

ohne zu gehen

Infinitive clause preferred.
✗

ohne den Hilfe

✓

ohne die Hilfe

Gender error.
✗

ohne dem Plan

✓

ohne den Plan

Dative error.
✗

ohne den Notwendigkeit

✓

ohne die Notwendigkeit

Gender error.
✗

ohne den Risiko

✓

ohne das Risiko

Gender error.
✗

ohne den Wissen

✓

ohne das Wissen

Gender error.
✗

ohne den Erfolg

✓

ohne den Erfolg

Correct, but check context.

Sentence Patterns

Ich trinke ___ ohne ___.

Ohne ___ kann ich nicht ___.

Ein Leben ohne ___ ist ___.

Ohne ___ wäre das Projekt ___.

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Ein Burger ohne Zwiebeln, bitte.

Texting very common

Kommst du ohne den Hund?

Job interview common

Ich kann ohne die Software nicht arbeiten.

Travel common

Wir reisen ohne den Koffer.

Social media common

Ein Leben ohne Kaffee? Niemals!

Legal occasional

Ohne die Zustimmung ist es verboten.

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💡

Masculine focus

Only masculine nouns change. Focus on 'den' first.
⚠️

Don't use Dative

Never use 'dem' after 'ohne'.
🎯

Use it daily

Practice by saying what you don't want in your food.
💬

Coffee culture

Germans love their coffee. Knowing how to order it is key.

Smart Tips

Always add 'bitte' at the end.

Kaffee ohne Zucker. → Kaffee ohne Zucker, bitte.

Check if your noun is masculine.

Ohne der Plan. → Ohne den Plan.

Keep it short.

Ich möchte einen Kaffee, der ohne Zucker ist. → Einen Kaffee ohne Zucker.

Use 'ohne' + noun.

Ich nicht Zucker. → Ohne Zucker.

Pronunciation

/ˈoːnə/

Ohne

The 'h' is silent, making it sound like 'O-ne'.

Statement

Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Zucker ↘

Neutral statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ohne is mean, it turns 'der' into 'den'!

Visual Association

Imagine a coffee cup with a big 'DEN' written on it where the sugar should be. The sugar is missing because 'ohne' took it away.

Rhyme

Ohne is the rule, make the masculine cool, change der to den, and say it again!

Story

Hans went to the cafe. He wanted coffee. He said 'Ohne Zucker'. The waiter looked at him. Hans corrected himself: 'Ohne den Zucker'. Now he is happy.

Word Web

ohnedenAkkusativPräpositionohne Zuckerohne Milch

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about things you don't like in your coffee or tea using 'ohne'.

Cultural Notes

Germans are very specific about coffee orders. 'Ohne Zucker' is a standard request.

Derived from Old High German 'ohno'.

Conversation Starters

“

Trinkst du Kaffee mit oder ohne Zucker?

“

Kannst du ohne dein Handy leben?

“

Was ist ein Leben ohne Musik für dich?

“

Könntest du ohne die moderne Technik arbeiten?

Journal Prompts

Describe your perfect breakfast without specific items.
Write about a day without your phone.
Discuss the importance of a specific tool in your work.
Reflect on a life without modern conveniences.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct article.

Ich trinke Kaffee ohne ___ Zucker.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Zucker is masculine Accusative.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich gehe ohne den Hund.
Hund is masculine Accusative.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich trinke Tee ohne der Milch.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ohne die Milch
Milch is feminine.
Change to Accusative. Sentence Transformation

Der Zucker -> Ohne ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den Zucker
Accusative masculine.
Is this true? True False Rule

Does 'ohne' take Dative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It takes Accusative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Kaffee mit Zucker? B: Nein, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ohne den Zucker
Accusative.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ohne / den / trinke / ich / Kaffee / Zucker

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich trinke Kaffee ohne den Zucker
Correct word order.
Match the noun to the article. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Hund is masculine.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct article.

Ich trinke Kaffee ohne ___ Zucker.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Zucker is masculine Accusative.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich gehe ohne den Hund.
Hund is masculine Accusative.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ich trinke Tee ohne der Milch.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ohne die Milch
Milch is feminine.
Change to Accusative. Sentence Transformation

Der Zucker -> Ohne ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den Zucker
Accusative masculine.
Is this true? True False Rule

Does 'ohne' take Dative?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
It takes Accusative.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Kaffee mit Zucker? B: Nein, ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ohne den Zucker
Accusative.
Order the words. Sentence Building

ohne / den / trinke / ich / Kaffee / Zucker

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich trinke Kaffee ohne den Zucker
Correct word order.
Match the noun to the article. Match Pairs

Ohne ___ (Hund)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Hund is masculine.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun Fill in the Blank

Kommst du ohne ___ (me)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mich
Select the correct sentence Multiple Choice

Which one describes a burger without onions correctly?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ein Burger ohne die Zwiebeln.
Correct the case Error Correction

Wir gehen ohne dem Lehrer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wir gehen ohne den Lehrer.
Put the words in the correct order Sentence Reorder

trinke / ohne / Ich / Milch / Kaffee

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich trinke Kaffee ohne Milch
Translate to German Translation

Without him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ohne ihn.
Match the article to the gender after 'ohne' Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Masculine: den, Feminine: die, Neuter: das, Plural: die
Complete the social media caption Fill in the Blank

#NoFilter = Ein Foto ohne ___ (der) Filter.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: den
Which pronoun is accusative? Multiple Choice

Pick the correct pronoun for 'without them':

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ohne sie
Fix the pronoun Error Correction

Kannst du ohne uns spielen?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kannst du ohne uns spielen.
Translate 'without a plan' Translation

Without a plan.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ohne einen Plan.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, it is a purely Accusative preposition.

They stay 'die'.

Yes, 'ohne Zucker' is common.

It is neutral and used everywhere.

Think of 'ohne' as a 'den' magnet.

Yes, 'ohne die Freunde'.

Yes, 'nicht' negates verbs.

It is a high-frequency word.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

sin

German requires Accusative case, Spanish does not have cases.

French high

sans

French does not have case endings for articles.

Japanese moderate

nashi de

Japanese is agglutinative; German uses prepositions.

Arabic high

bidun

Arabic uses genitive case after prepositions.

Chinese moderate

méiyǒu

Chinese lacks grammatical cases.

English high

without

English has no case system for nouns.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
For You! German Accusative Preposition (für)
Next
German Preposition 'um': At and Around (Accusative)

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