as sou

As if (Formal): As Sou

Level 6

As sou means as if (formal): Hy maak as sou hy niks weet nie. (He acts as if he knows nothing.)

How It Works

1. Meaning. As sou means as if or as though. It is the formal partner of asof:

  • Everyday: Hy maak asof hy niks weet nie.
  • Formal: Hy maak as sou hy niks weet nie. (He acts as if he knows nothing.)

2. Word order. The order is as + sou + subject + ... + infinitive. Sou comes directly after as, and the main verb goes to the end as an infinitive:

  • Sy praat as sou sy die baas wees. (She talks as though she were the boss.)
  • Dit lyk as sou dit vanmiddag reën. (It looks as if it will rain this afternoon.)

For something in the past, end with a participle and het: Hy het gemaak as sou hy my nie gesien het nie. (He acted as if he had not seen me.)

3. Reported claims. In journalism and formal writing, as sou also introduces a claim that the writer does not confirm, much like sou for reported claims: Berigte as sou die skool sluit, is vals. (Reports that the school would close are false.)

4. Not an if-clause. If the subject comes before sou, as is read as if, and the clause becomes a condition (see as ... sou): as hy dit sou weet means if he were to know it, not as if he knew it.

Examples (5)

  1. Hy maak as sou hy niks weet nie.

    He acts as if he knows nothing.

    Word by Word: He makes as would he nothing know not.

  2. Sy praat as sou sy die baas wees.

    She talks as though she were the boss.

    Word by Word: She talks as would she the boss be.

  3. Dit lyk as sou dit vanmiddag reën.

    It looks as if it will rain this afternoon.

    Word by Word: It looks as would it this-afternoon rain.

  4. Hy het gemaak as sou hy my nie gesien het nie.

    He acted as if he had not seen me.

    Word by Word: He has made as would he me not seen have not.

  5. Berigte as sou die skool sluit, is vals.

    Reports that the school would close are false.

    Word by Word: Reports as would the school close, are false.

    Here as sou introduces a claim the writer does not confirm.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a conjugated verb instead of the infinitive after sou.

    Sy praat as sou sy die baas is.
    Sy praat as sou sy die baas wees.

    Sou is followed by an infinitive at the end of the clause. The infinitive of is is wees.

  • Mixing asof with the as sou word order.

    Hy maak asof sou hy niks weet nie.
    Hy maak as sou hy niks weet nie.

    Use either asof with the verb at the end (asof hy niks weet nie) or as sou with sou straight after as. Do not combine them.

  • Putting the subject before sou (intended meaning: as if).

    Hy maak as hy niks sou weet nie.
    Hy maak as sou hy niks weet nie.

    With the subject first, as is read as if and the clause becomes a condition. For as if, sou must follow as directly.

How It Connects

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

as souLevel 6As if (Formal): As Sou

Learn This First

The literary as sou construction expresses an unreal comparison with sou before its subject.

Words in This Pattern

assou