zonder te

Without -ing

Level 3

The Dutch construction zonder te is the equivalent of the English 'without' followed by a gerund (e.g., 'without saying'). It describes an action that was skipped or avoided while doing something else.

How It Works

The zonder te construction is a type of te + infinitive clause. It is used to express manner or a negative circumstance.

1. Word Order
In Dutch, the infinitive always moves to the very end of the clause. Any objects or adverbs must come between zonder and te.
Example: zonder een woord te zeggen (without saying a word).

2. Separable Verbs
If you use a separable verb, the word te is placed between the prefix and the verb stem. Unlike the infinitive itself, these are written as three separate words.
Example: opbellen (to call) becomes zonder op te bellen.

3. Subject Identity
This pattern only works if the subject of both parts of the sentence is the same. If the subjects are different (e.g., 'I left without him noticing'), you must use zonder dat instead.

4. No 'Om'
Unlike many other infinitive constructions, you never use the word om with zonder te. Adding it is a common error for learners.

5. Passive and 'Hoeven'
To become proficient in this structure, note that it can be combined with the passive (e.g., zonder gezien te worden - without being seen) or with hoeven to express 'without having to' (e.g., zonder te hoeven betalen - without having to pay).

6. No Double Negatives
Because zonder already implies a negative ('without'), do not add niet to the clause unless you intend to create a complex double negative meaning.

Examples (4)

  1. Hij vertrok zonder te groeten.

    He left without saying goodbye.

    Word by Word: He departed without to greet.

    A simple example where the infinitive 'groeten' comes immediately after 'te'.

  2. Je kunt niet leren zonder fouten te maken.

    You cannot learn without making mistakes.

    Word by Word: You can not learn without mistakes to make.

    Notice how the object 'fouten' (mistakes) is placed between 'zonder' and 'te'.

  3. Zij liep langs me heen zonder me aan te kijken.

    She walked past me without looking at me.

    Word by Word: She walked along me past without me at to look.

    This uses the separable verb 'aankijken'. The 'te' is placed inside the verb: 'aan te kijken'.

  4. Hij ging slapen zonder zijn tanden te poetsen.

    He went to sleep without brushing his teeth.

    Word by Word: He went sleep without his teeth to brush.

    The entire phrase 'zijn tanden' (his teeth) comes before 'te poetsen'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present participle (-end) instead of the infinitive.

    Hij liep weg zonder zeggend een woord.
    Hij liep weg zonder een woord te zeggen.

    English speakers often try to translate '-ing' literally using the Dutch present participle. In Dutch, 'zonder' must be followed by 'te' + infinitive.

  • Incorrectly adding 'om' to the construction.

    Ik ging weg zonder om gedag te zeggen.
    Ik ging weg zonder gedag te zeggen.

    Learners often confuse this with the om te + infinitive pattern. However, 'zonder' replaces 'om', so you should never use both together.

  • Leaving out 'dat' when the subject changes.

    Ik ging weg zonder hij mij zag.
    Ik ging weg zonder dat hij mij zag.

    When the second action has its own subject, 'zonder' needs a full clause with 'dat', and the verb goes to the end: zonder dat hij mij zag. The short 'zonder te + infinitive' only works when both actions have the same subject.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

zonder teLevel 3Without -ing

Learn This First

To understand 'zonder te', a learner must be comfortable with the 'te + infinitive' structure and the basic preposition 'zonder' (the opposite of 'met'). It is also helpful to have encountered 'om te' as it establishes the logic of using infinitival clauses to modify a main action.

Words in This Pattern

te