sover
As Far as: Sover
Limit what you say: Sover ek weet, kom hy nie. (As far as I know, he isn't coming.) The verb in the sover clause goes to the end.
How It Works
1. Common phrases. Sover often goes with a verb of knowing or seeing:
- Sover ek weet (as far as I know)
- Sover ek kan onthou (as far as I can remember)
- Vir sover ek kan sien (as far as I can see)
- vir sover dit moontlik is (as far as possible)
2. Verb at the end. Like omdat, sover follows subordinate clause word order: vir sover dit moontlik is.
3. Clause first. When the sover clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Sover ek weet, kom hy nie. See subordinate clause first.
4. Sover or vir sover. Both mean the same. Vir sover is a little more formal and is common in rules and reports: Die beleid geld net vir sover dit nie met die wet bots nie.
5. Short answers. Sover ek weet can stand alone as a reply: Sover ek weet, nog nie. (As far as I know, not yet.)
Spelling: write sover as one word when it means "as far as" in this sense. Write so ver as two words for real distance: Hy het so ver geloop as wat hy kon. (He walked as far as he could.)
Examples (6)
- Sover ek weet, kom hy nie vanaand nie.
As far as I know, he isn't coming tonight.
Word by Word: As-far-as I know, comes he not tonight not.
The sover clause comes first, so kom comes before hy.
- Sover ek kan onthou, het ons nog nooit daar gebly nie.
As far as I can remember, we have never stayed there.
Word by Word: As-far-as I can remember, have we yet never there stayed not.
- Ons sal help, vir sover dit moontlik is.
We will help as far as possible.
Word by Word: We will help, for as-far-as it possible is.
- Vir sover ek kan sien, is alles in orde.
As far as I can see, everything is in order.
Word by Word: For as-far-as I can see, is everything in order.
- Die beleid geld net vir sover dit nie met die wet bots nie.
The policy applies only insofar as it does not conflict with the law.
Word by Word: The policy applies only for as-far-as it not with the law clashes not.
- Sover ek weet, nog nie.
As far as I know, not yet.
Word by Word: As-far-as I know, yet not.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the subject first after a fronted sover clause.
Sover ek weet, hy kom nie vanaand nie.Sover ek weet, kom hy nie vanaand nie.The sover clause counts as the first element, so the main verb kom must come next, before hy.
Leaving the verb in second place inside the sover clause.
Ons sal help, vir sover is dit moontlik.Ons sal help, vir sover dit moontlik is.Sover starts a subordinate clause, so its verb is goes to the end.
Writing so ver for "as far as I know".
So ver ek weet, kom hy nie.Sover ek weet, kom hy nie.Sover is one word for "as far as" in the sense of "to the extent that". So ver, in two words, is for real distance.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Sover means as far as and works like solank.
Related Patterns
- Verb at the End in Subordinate Clauses
Sover sends the verb to the end, like other subordinating conjunctions.
Level 2 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
A fronted sover clause puts the main verb right after it.
Level 3 - wat ... betrefAs for: Wat ... Betref
Another way to limit what a statement is about: wat my betref (as far as I am concerned).
Level 4 - so ... soosAs ... as: So ... Soos
So ... soos compares two things, while sover limits a statement.
Level 2 - Formal Written Afrikaans
Vir sover is especially common in formal writing.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice sover in Bubblegum
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