solank

As Long as: Solank

Level 4

Solank means as long as and sends the verb to the end: Solank jy hier is, is ek gelukkig. (As long as you are here, I am happy.)

How It Works

1. A condition. Solank often means provided that or only if:

Jy mag buite speel, solank jy voor donker tuis is. (You may play outside as long as you are home before dark.)
Ek help jou graag, solank jy my later ook help. (I am happy to help you, as long as you help me later too.)

2. A stretch of time. Solank can also mean for as long as or while: Solank die baba slaap, moet ons saggies praat. (As long as the baby is sleeping, we have to talk quietly.) For a plain while, see terwyl.

3. Word order. The verb in the solank clause goes to the end, as in other subordinate clauses. When the solank clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Solank jy hier is, is ek gelukkig.

4. One word or two? Solank (as long as) is one word. So lank is two words when it means so long: Ek het nog nooit so lank gewag nie. (I have never waited so long.) In speech you may also hear solank as or solank as wat with the same meaning.

5. Solank meaning in the meantime. On its own, as an adverb, solank means in the meantime or for now: Eet solank, ek kom nou-nou. (Go ahead and eat, I will be there in a moment.) This solank does not start a clause, so it does not move the verb.

Examples (5)

Solank jy hier is, is ek gelukkig.
As long as you are here, I am happy.
Word by Word: As-long you here are, am I happy.
Jy mag buite speel, solank jy voor donker tuis is.
You may play outside as long as you are home before dark.
Word by Word: You may outside play, as-long you before dark home are.
Solank die baba slaap, moet ons saggies praat.
As long as the baby is sleeping, we have to talk quietly.
Word by Word: As-long the baby sleeps, must we softly talk.
Here solank marks a stretch of time rather than a condition.
Ek help jou graag, solank jy my later ook help.
I am happy to help you, as long as you help me later too.
Word by Word: I help you gladly, as-long you me later also help.
Eet solank, ek kom nou-nou.
Go ahead and eat, I will be there in a moment.
Word by Word: Eat meanwhile, I come now-now.
This solank is an adverb meaning in the meantime, so it does not send a verb to the end.

Common Mistakes

Keeping the verb in second place after solank.
Jy mag buite speel, solank jy is voor donker tuis.
Jy mag buite speel, solank jy voor donker tuis is.
Solank starts a subordinate clause, so its verb goes to the end.
Writing the conjunction as two words.
So lank jy hier is, is ek gelukkig.
Solank jy hier is, is ek gelukkig.
As long as is one word, solank. Two words, so lank, mean so long, as in Ek het nog nooit so lank gewag nie.
Starting the main clause with the subject after a fronted solank clause.
Solank jy hier is, ek is gelukkig.
Solank jy hier is, is ek gelukkig.
The solank clause fills first place, so the verb of the main clause comes right after the comma.

How It Connects

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

solankLevel 4As Long as: Solank

Learn This First

Solank starts a condition.

as (If)If and When: As
Solank works like as and sends the verb to the end.
Level 2

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

soverAs Far as: SoverLevel 5

Words in This Pattern