Absolute Phrases With met

Level 6

Met + noun + description paints the scene: Met sy hande in sy sakke het hy gewag. (With his hands in his pockets, he waited.)

How It Works

1. The pattern. Met + noun phrase + description adds the situation in which something happens. English uses with the same way:

  • met sy hande in sy sakke (with his hands in his pockets)
  • met die vensters oop (with the windows open)
  • met haar oë toe (with her eyes closed)
  • met al die werk klaar (with all the work done)

This is a special use of the ordinary preposition met. It does not mean together with or using; it describes a state.

2. No verb inside. The phrase never has a finite verb. Say met die vensters oop, not *met die vensters is oop. If you need a verb, use a full clause with terwyl or omdat.

3. Position. The phrase can go in the middle of the sentence or at the start. At the start it counts as the first element, so the finite verb comes right after it (verb second): Met die vensters oop kon ons die see hoor. A comma after a long met-phrase is common but not required.

4. Style. Short met-phrases are everyday Afrikaans. Longer ones sound more literary, much like participle clauses.

Examples (5)

  1. Met sy hande in sy sakke het hy gewag.

    With his hands in his pockets, he waited.

    Word by Word: With his hands in his pockets has he waited.

    The fronted met-phrase is followed by the finite verb het.

  2. Sy het met haar oë toe na die musiek geluister.

    She listened to the music with her eyes closed.

    Word by Word: She has with her eyes closed to the music listened.

  3. Met die vensters oop kon ons die see hoor.

    With the windows open, we could hear the sea.

    Word by Word: With the windows open could we the sea hear.

  4. Hy het met 'n koppie koffie in die hand by die venster gestaan.

    He stood at the window with a cup of coffee in his hand.

    Word by Word: He has with a cup coffee in the hand by the window stood.

  5. Met al die werk klaar het hulle gaan swem.

    With all the work done, they went swimming.

    Word by Word: With all the work finished have they go swim.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping English word order after a fronted met-phrase.

    Met sy hande in sy sakke hy het gewag.
    Met sy hande in sy sakke het hy gewag.

    The met-phrase is the first element, so the finite verb must come second, before the subject.

  • Putting a finite verb inside the met-phrase.

    Met die vensters is oop kon ons die see hoor.
    Met die vensters oop kon ons die see hoor.

    An absolute met-phrase has no verb of its own. Use only the noun and its description, or write a full clause: Omdat die vensters oop was, ...

How It Connects

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Absolute Phrases With metLevel 6

Learn This First

Absolute met-phrases add background information, like participle clauses.

Words in This Pattern