as / wanneer / toe

As, Wanneer or Toe?

Level 3

One time in the past: toe. Now, later or every time: as or wanneer. Toe ek in Kaapstad was, ... / As ek in Kaapstad is, ...

How It Works

1. Toe: one event in the past.

  • Toe ek in Kaapstad was, het ek Tafelberg uitgeklim. (When I was in Cape Town, I climbed Table Mountain.)
  • Toe die telefoon lui, was ek in die stort. (When the phone rang, I was in the shower.)

The verb after toe can stay in the present form, because toe already shows the past. See toe (when).

2. As and wanneer: now and later.

  • As ek in Kaapstad is, bel ek jou. (When I'm in Cape Town, I'll call you.)
  • Wanneer ek stad toe gaan, neem ek die bus. (When I go to town, I take the bus.)

3. Again and again, even in the past. For whenever, use wanneer or as, not toe:

  • Wanneer ons by ouma gekuier het, het sy altyd koek gebak. (Whenever we visited Granny, she always baked a cake.)
  • Toe ons by ouma gekuier het, het sy koek gebak. (When we visited Granny that time, she baked a cake.)

4. As can also mean if. As dit môre reën, bly ek tuis. (If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home.) When you mean when and not if, wanneer makes that clear. See as (if).

5. Questions use wanneer. Only wanneer is a question word: Wanneer kom jy? (When are you coming?) Wanneer het jy aangekom? (When did you arrive?) See waar and wanneer.

Examples (6)

  1. Toe ek jonk was, het ek op 'n plaas gewoon.

    When I was young, I lived on a farm.

    Word by Word: When I young was, have I on a farm lived.

    Being young is one period in the past, so toe is used.

  2. As ek in Kaapstad is, bel ek jou.

    When I'm in Cape Town, I'll call you.

    Word by Word: When I in Cape Town am, call I you.

  3. Wanneer dit reën, speel die kinders binne.

    When it rains, the children play inside.

    Word by Word: When it rains, play the children inside.

  4. Wanneer ons by ouma gekuier het, het sy altyd koek gebak.

    Whenever we visited Granny, she always baked a cake.

    Word by Word: When we at granny visited have, has she always cake baked.

    This happened many times, so wanneer is used even though it is in the past.

  5. Toe die telefoon lui, was ek in die stort.

    When the phone rang, I was in the shower.

    Word by Word: When the telephone rings, was I in the shower.

  6. Wanneer begin die film?

    When does the film start?

    Word by Word: When begins the film?

Common Mistakes

  • Using toe as a question word.

    Toe het jy aangekom?
    Wanneer het jy aangekom?

    Toe never asks when. Toe het jy aangekom? can only mean Then did you arrive? To ask when, use wanneer.

  • Using toe for the future.

    Toe ek môre in Kaapstad is, bel ek jou.
    As ek môre in Kaapstad is, bel ek jou.

    Toe is only for the past. For now and later, use as or wanneer.

  • Using toe to mean whenever in the past.

    Toe ons by ouma gekuier het, het sy altyd koek gebak.
    Wanneer ons by ouma gekuier het, het sy altyd koek gebak.

    The meaning here is whenever we visited Granny, on many visits. For repeated events, use wanneer or as. Toe points to one occasion or one period.

How It Connects

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

as / wanneer / toeLevel 3As, Wanneer or Toe?

Learn This First

As, wanneer and toe all translate when, and choosing between them needs each one.

Words in This Pattern

aswanneer