asof

As if

Level 3

Asof means as if. The verb goes to the end: Dit lyk asof dit gaan reën. (It looks as if it is going to rain.)

How It Works

1. The verb goes to the end. After asof, the verb of the clause stands last (see verb at the end):

  • Sy praat asof sy die baas is. (She talks as if she were the boss.)
  • Jy lyk asof jy 'n spook gesien het. (You look as if you have seen a ghost.)

2. Common partners. Asof often follows lyk (look), voel (feel), klink (sound) and maak. Maak asof means to pretend: Hy maak asof hy niks hoor nie. (He pretends he doesn't hear anything.)

3. Ordinary tenses. English sometimes says as if she were. Afrikaans simply uses the present or past: asof sy die baas is.

4. Of on its own. After verbs such as lyk and klink, of alone can also mean as if: Dit lyk of niemand tuis is nie. (It looks as if no one is home.)

5. Asof or soos? Soos compares with a noun: Hy lyk soos sy pa. (He looks like his father.) To say as if before a whole clause, use asof. Before a clause, soos means as or the way: soos jy weet (as you know).

Tip: Formal writing also has as sou, which means the same thing: Hy maak as sou hy niks weet nie.

Examples (6)

  1. Hy maak asof hy niks hoor nie.

    He pretends he doesn't hear anything.

    Word by Word: He makes as-if he nothing hears not.

    Maak asof means to pretend.

  2. Dit lyk asof dit gaan reën.

    It looks as if it is going to rain.

    Word by Word: It looks as-if it goes rain.

  3. Sy praat asof sy die baas is.

    She talks as if she were the boss.

    Word by Word: She talks as-if she the boss is.

    Afrikaans uses the ordinary present is here.

  4. Jy lyk asof jy 'n spook gesien het.

    You look as if you've seen a ghost.

    Word by Word: You look as-if you a ghost seen have.

  5. Dit voel asof ek al jare hier woon.

    It feels as if I've lived here for years.

    Word by Word: It feels as-if I already years here live.

  6. Dit lyk of niemand tuis is nie.

    It looks as if no one is home.

    Word by Word: It looks if no-one home is not.

    After lyk, of alone can also mean as if.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the verb in second place after asof.

    Hy maak asof hy hoor niks nie.
    Hy maak asof hy niks hoor nie.

    Asof starts a subordinate clause, so its verb hoor goes to the end, before the closing nie.

  • Using soos for as if before a clause.

    Dit lyk soos dit gaan reën.
    Dit lyk asof dit gaan reën.

    Soos compares with a noun, as in Hy lyk soos sy pa. To say as if before a clause, use asof.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

asofLevel 3As if

Learn This First

Asof starts a subordinate clause, so its verbs go to the end.

Words in This Pattern

asof