Konjunktion indem
B1 · Intermediate · Advanced Structures
The rule
indem = by doing something.
How it works
Indem (by doing something) describes the means by which an action is carried out. It introduces a clause with the verb at the end and is common in formal writing: Man spart Geld, indem man weniger Auto fährt (You save money by driving less). Indem is more precise than durch, which takes a noun.
When to use it
Use indem (by doing something) to say how an action is carried out, with the verb at the end.
Use cases
- Describing a method: Ich lerne Wörter, indem ich Karteikarten benutze
- Explaining how a result is achieved: Er verbessert sein Deutsch, indem er Filme auf Deutsch sieht
- Writing about processes in academic texts
Examples
- Man lernt, indem man übt – One learns by practising
- Sie informiert sich, indem sie Zeitung liest. – She keeps informed by reading the newspaper.
- Wir sparen Energie, indem wir das Licht ausschalten. – We save energy by switching off the lights.
- Man versteht den Text besser, indem man ihn zweimal liest. – You understand the text better by reading it twice.
Common mistake
Translating indem as "in which". It means "by doing something".
Memory tip
Indem = by (doing). "Er lernt, indem er liest."
Read the wider picture in our guide: German Verbs and Word Order: Tenses, Modals and Sentence Structure.