so ... soos
As ... as: So ... Soos
so + adjective + soos = as ... as: so lank soos haar pa · negative: nie so warm soos gister nie
How It Works
Saying two things are equal
Sy is so lank soos haar pa. (She is as tall as her dad.) The adjective has no ending: it is not a comparative, and it takes no -e.
Adding net
Net so ... soos means just as ... as: Die water is net so koud soos gister.
Saying they are not equal
Put nie before so and a second nie at the end of the clause: Dit is nie so warm soos gister nie. (It is not as warm as yesterday.) This is the normal double negation.
With verbs
Afrikaans adjectives also work as adverbs, so the same frame compares how things are done: Hy hardloop so vinnig soos sy broer.
As or soos?
- so ... soos: equal, as ... as: so lank soos haar pa.
- comparative + as: not equal, than: langer as haar pa.
In everyday Afrikaans, so ... soos is the normal way to compare two people or things. You will also meet so ... as in formal writing and in fixed phrases such as so gou as moontlik (as soon as possible).
Examples (6)
- Sy is so lank soos haar pa.
She is as tall as her dad.
Word by Word: She is so tall like her dad.
- Dit is nie so warm soos gister nie.
It is not as warm as yesterday.
Word by Word: It is not so warm like yesterday not.
The second nie closes the negative sentence.
- Die water is net so koud soos gister.
The water is just as cold as yesterday.
Word by Word: The water is just so cold like yesterday.
- My Afrikaans is nog nie so goed soos joune nie.
My Afrikaans is not as good as yours yet.
Word by Word: My Afrikaans is still not so good like yours not.
Nog nie ... nie means not yet.
- Hy hardloop so vinnig soos sy broer.
He runs as fast as his brother.
Word by Word: He runs so fast like his brother.
- Die kat is amper so groot soos 'n klein hond.
The cat is almost as big as a small dog.
Word by Word: The cat is almost so big like a small dog.
Common Mistakes
Adding -e to the adjective between so and soos.
Sy is so lange soos haar pa.Sy is so lank soos haar pa.The adjective here comes after is, not before a noun, so it keeps its plain form: lank.
Leaving out the final nie.
Dit is nie so warm soos gister.Dit is nie so warm soos gister nie.A negative sentence with nie needs a second nie at the end.
Using a comparative between so and soos.
Hy is so ouer soos ek.Hy is so oud soos ek.The adjective between so and soos stays in its plain form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
So ... soos compares two things that are equal.
Related Patterns
- as (Than)Than: As
Use as after a comparative when two things are not equal.
Level 2 - nie ... nieDouble Negation
The negative nie so ... soos ... nie uses double negation.
Level 1 - Adjectives Used as Adverbs
So ... soos also compares how actions are done, because adjectives work as adverbs.
Level 1 - so ... datSo ... That
So before an adjective can also be followed by dat, meaning so ... that.
Level 4 - so 'n/sulkeSuch: So 'N and Sulke
So also appears in so 'n, meaning such a.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice so ... soos in Bubblegum
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