sin que
conjunctionCEFR B1
What does “sin que” mean in English?
without
without (someone) doing (sin que + subjunctive — always, different subjects)
Example sentences
Logró pasar el control sin que los guardias se dieran cuenta de lo que llevaba en la mochila.
He managed to get through security without the guards realising what he was carrying in his backpack.
El software se actualizó automáticamente sin que el usuario tuviera que hacer nada.
The software updated automatically without the user having to do anything.
Se fue sin despedirse y sin que nadie pudiera entender el motivo de su marcha repentina.
She left without saying goodbye and without anyone being able to understand the reason for her sudden departure.
How to use it
Sin que means 'without (someone) doing' and always triggers subjunctive — it expresses the absence or exclusion of a second subject's action: 'Salió sin que nadie lo viera'. When the subjects are the same, use sin + infinitive: 'Salió sin decir nada' (he left without saying anything — same subject). Sin que is particularly useful for expressing things that happened covertly, unnoticed, or without the knowledge of others. The subjunctive is invariable in this construction.
Common mistake
Sin que (different subjects) always triggers subjunctive — never indicative. *'Salió sin que nadie lo vio' is wrong — it must be 'sin que nadie lo viera'. When the subject is the same: sin + infinitive (not sin que). 'Salió sin decir nada' is correct for same-subject; 'Salió sin que nadie lo viera' for different subjects.