What are Modal Clauses?
Modal clauses are subordinate clauses. They describe how something was done or how something occured.
The question words are: Wie? Wodurch? Auf welche Art und Weise?
The conjunctions are „indem“ and „dadurch/ohne/anstatt dass…“
They can also be constructed with infinitives. Then we use „ohne… zu…“ and „anstatt… zu…“.
„indem“ and „dadurch dass“
„indem“ and „dadurch dass“ explain the direct way the goal was reached.
How can someone become a millionaire?
- „Man kann Millionär werden, indem man im Lotto gewinnt.“
- „Man kann Millionär werden, dadurch dass man hart arbeitet.“
- „Man kann dadurch Millionär werden, dass man etwas erbt.“
What´s the goal? ⇒ How do I reach that goal?
„dadurch dass“ can be separated like „so dass“ (Consecutive Clauses). The main clause MUST come before the subordinate clause and „dadurch“ come before the goal that should be reached.
„ohne dass“ / „ohne… zu…“
“ohne dass“ and „ohne… zu…“ describe limitations or constraints.
“ohne dass“ is a normal subordinate clause and „ohne… zu…“ is an infinitive construction.
- „Ich gehe an den Strand, ohne dass ich eine Badehose trage.“
- „Ich gehe an den Strand, ohne eine Badehose zu tragen.“
„Ohne… zu…“ can only be used when the same subject is used in the main clause and subordinate clause (More info in infinitive constructions).
„anstatt dass“ / „anstatt… zu…“
“anstatt dass“ and „anstatt… zu…“ describe an alternative to what is happening in the main clause.
“anstatt dass“ is a normal subordinate clause and „anstatt… zu…“ is an infinitive construction.
Example:
- „Ich schwimme im Pool, anstatt dass ich im Meer schwimmen gehe.“
- „Ich schwimme im Pool, anstatt im Meer schwimmen zu gehen.“
= „Ich schwimme im Pool und nicht im Meer.“
„Anstatt… zu…“ can only be used when the same subject is used in the main clause and subordinate clause.
Word Order
The conjunctions „indem“, „dadurch dass“, and „ohne/anstatt dass“ start subordinate clauses. That means they belong to the so called subjunctions and the verb goes to the end of the clause (More info: Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses).
„ohne/anstatt… zu…“ use an infinitive construction. „ohne/anstatt“ come after the comma and start a subordinate clause, or more specifically an infinitive phrase with „zu“ (More Info: Infinitive Phrases with „zu“)
Summary
- Modal clauses are subordinate clauses that are constructed using „indem“, „dadurch dass“, „ohne/anstatt dass“, and „ohne/anstatt… zu…“.
- They describe how something is done or occurs.
- The question words are: Wie? Wodurch? Auf welche Art und Weise?
- We create an infinitive construction with „ohne/anstatt… zu…“.
Further Information
- A general overview about subordinate clause can be found: Subordinate Clause.
- Infinitive Phrases (infinitive with zu) and Infinitive Constructions (um/anstatt/ohne … zu) are subordinate clauses as well.
- Subordinate clauses start with subordinate conjunctions: „weil/da“, „obwohl“, „damit“, „wenn/falls“, „dass“, „so dass“ and „als/wenn“
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