uden
Without (Uden)
Use uden to say 'without' in Danish. It works with nouns, pronouns, and verbs (using the pattern uden at).
How It Works
The Danish preposition uden is the standard way to express 'without'. It is used in three main ways:
- With Nouns and Pronouns: It attaches directly to the word. Crucially, personal pronouns must be in the object form (e.g., uden ham, not uden han).
- With Verbs (Same Subject): If the person doing the main action is the same person not doing the second action, use uden at + infinitive. Example: Han gik uden at sige noget (He left without saying anything).
- With Clauses (Different Subjects): If the subjects are different, uden at acts as a conjunction followed by a full subordinate clause (subject + verb). Example: Han gik, uden at jeg så det (He left without me seeing it).
Pronunciation Tip: The 'd' in uden is a 'soft d' (blødt d), similar to the 'th' in 'mother'.
Examples (6)
- Jeg kan ikke leve uden dig.
I cannot live without you.
Word by Word: I can not live without you.
Here 'uden' is used with the object pronoun 'dig'.
- Hun drikker kaffe uden mælk.
She drinks coffee without milk.
Word by Word: She drinks coffee without milk.
A simple usage of 'uden' followed by a noun.
- De gik hjem uden at betale.
They went home without paying.
Word by Word: They went home without to pay.
When the subject is the same, use uden at followed by the infinitive.
- Han gjorde det, uden at jeg vidste det.
He did it without me knowing it.
Word by Word: He did it, without that I knew it.
When the subjects are different, 'uden at' introduces a full subordinate clause with a subject and a finite verb.
- Det er uden tvivl den bedste film.
It is without doubt the best movie.
Word by Word: It is without doubt the best film.
'Uden tvivl' is a common fixed expression meaning 'without doubt'.
- Vi rejser ikke uden ham.
We are not traveling without him.
Word by Word: We travel not without him.
Always use the object form of the pronoun after 'uden'.
Common Mistakes
Using the present participle (-ende) instead of the infinitive.
Han gik uden sigende farvel.Han gik uden at sige farvel.English speakers often translate 'without saying' literally. In Danish, you must use 'uden at' + infinitive.
Using 'uden' (without) where you mean outside.
Different MeaningJeg står uden penge.Jeg står udenfor.'Jeg står uden penge' is correct and means I have no money. To say you are standing outside, use 'udenfor'.
Forgetting the particle 'at' before a verb.
Hun gik uden sige noget.Hun gik uden at sige noget.The word 'at' is mandatory when 'uden' introduces a verbal action.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'uden' (without), you need to be familiar with basic Danish prepositions and how they connect to nouns and pronouns. It functions similarly to 'med' (with) and requires knowledge of object pronouns for phrases like 'without me' or 'without you'.
- medWith
Uden (without) is the direct semantic opposite of med (with), and understanding how basic prepositions function in simple phrases is essential.
Level 1 - enIndefinite Article (Common Gender)
Uden is often followed by a noun phrase (e.g., 'uden en kop kaffe'), requiring knowledge of basic indefinite articles.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- uden atWithout -ing (Uden at)
This is the specific construction used when 'uden' is followed by a verb.
Level 3 - at + InfinitiveInfinitive with at
Understanding how the infinitive works is crucial for using 'uden at' correctly.
Level 1 - mig/dig/ham/hendeObject Pronouns Singular
These object pronouns are frequently used after 'uden'.
Level 1 - medmindreUnless (Medmindre)
Learners sometimes confuse 'without' (uden) with 'unless' (medmindre).
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice uden in Bubblegum
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