teen
Against and by: Teen
Teen means against: Hy leun teen die muur. (He leans against the wall.) With a time it means by: Ons is teen vyfuur klaar. (We will be done by five.)
How It Works
1. Touching and leaning. Teen shows that something presses or leans against something else:
- Hy leun teen die muur. (He leans against the wall.)
- Die fiets staan teen die heining. (The bike is leaning against the fence.)
- Die bal het teen die venster geslaan. (The ball hit the window.)
Something that hangs from a hook or nail uses aan instead: Die prent hang aan die muur. A ladder that leans uses teen: Die leer staan teen die muur.
2. Against a person, team or idea.
- Suid-Afrika speel Saterdag teen Australië. (South Africa plays against Australia on Saturday.)
- My ma is teen die plan. (My mother is against the plan.)
- Hierdie room beskerm jou teen die son. (This cream protects you from the sun.)
3. By a time. Before a clock time or a day, teen gives a deadline:
- Ons is teen vyfuur klaar. (We will be done by five o'clock.)
- Die verslag moet teen Vrydag klaar wees. (The report must be finished by Friday.)
With a part of the day, teen means towards: Teen die aand het dit begin reën. (Towards evening it started to rain.)
Tip: do not use by for a deadline. By is for places and people (at, near). For until, use tot: Ek werk tot vyfuur means I work until five, and Ek is teen vyfuur klaar means I will be done by five.
Examples (6)
- Hy leun teen die muur.
He leans against the wall.
Word by Word: He leans against the wall.
- Ons is teen vyfuur klaar.
We will be done by five o'clock.
Word by Word: We are by five-o'clock finished.
Teen before a time means by, no later than.
- Suid-Afrika speel Saterdag teen Australië.
South Africa plays against Australia on Saturday.
Word by Word: South Africa plays Saturday against Australia.
- My ma is teen die plan.
My mother is against the plan.
Word by Word: My mom is against the plan.
- Die fiets staan teen die heining.
The bike is leaning against the fence.
Word by Word: The bike stands against the fence.
Staan tells you the bike is upright; teen tells you it leans on the fence.
- Teen die aand het dit begin reën.
Towards evening it started to rain.
Word by Word: Towards the evening has it begun rain.
With a part of the day, teen means towards.
Common Mistakes
Using by for a deadline, as in English.
Ek sal by vyfuur klaar wees.Ek sal teen vyfuur klaar wees.In Afrikaans, by is for places and people, such as by die huis. A deadline uses teen.
Using tot for a deadline.
Die verslag moet tot Vrydag klaar wees.Die verslag moet teen Vrydag klaar wees.Tot means until and tells you how long something goes on. Teen tells you the latest time something must be done.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Teen means against or leaning on.
Related Patterns
- totUntil: Tot
Tot means until, while teen before a time means by.
Level 2 - aanOn and at: Aan
Aan is for things hanging on or fixed to something, while teen is for leaning against it.
Level 2 - omAt and Around
Om gives an exact clock time, while teen gives a deadline.
Level 2 - Telling the Time
Shows the clock times that often follow teen.
Level 2 - lê/staan/hangPosition Verbs: Lê, Staan, Hang
Position verbs such as staan often go with teen: Die leer staan teen die muur.
Level 2 - Verbs With Fixed Prepositions
Some verbs take teen as a fixed partner, such as beskerm teen (protect against).
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice teen in Bubblegum
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