Pseudo-Clefts: wat ... is
Building Up to the Point: Wat ... Is
Wat + clause with the verb at the end + is/was + the point: Wat ek nodig het, is 'n koppie koffie. (What I need is a cup of coffee.)
How It Works
1. The pattern. A wat clause comes first and describes something not yet named. After it comes is or was, and then the point itself:
- Wat ek nodig het, is 'n koppie koffie. (What I need is a cup of coffee.)
- Wat hy gesê het, was nie waar nie. (What he said wasn't true.)
2. Two word-order rules at once. Inside the wat clause the verb goes to the end, as in any subordinate clause. The whole clause then fills first place, so is comes straight after it (see starting with a subordinate clause). In writing, a comma usually marks where the clause ends.
3. Is or was. Use is for now and was for the past. The point after it can be a noun, a clause or an om te phrase: Wat jy moet doen, is om vroeg te gaan slaap. (What you should do is go to bed early.)
4. Other question words. The same shape works with waar for places: Waar ek nou wil wees, is by die see. (Where I want to be now is at the sea.)
5. Compared with a cleft. A cleft sentence names the focus first: Dit is koffie wat ek nodig het. The pseudo-cleft saves it for the end: Wat ek nodig het, is koffie. Both stress koffie.
Tip: Do not confuse this with wat that points back to a whole statement, which comes after the statement: Hy het gebel, wat my verbaas het.
Examples (6)
- Wat ek nodig het, is 'n koppie koffie.
What I need is a cup of coffee.
Word by Word: What I need have, is a cup coffee.
Het ends the wat clause; is follows directly as the second element.
- Wat hy gesê het, was nie waar nie.
What he said wasn't true.
Word by Word: What he said has, was not true not.
- Wat my die meeste pla, is die geraas.
What bothers me most is the noise.
Word by Word: What me the most bothers, is the noise.
- Wat jy moet doen, is om vroeg te gaan slaap.
What you should do is go to bed early.
Word by Word: What you must do, is to early to go sleep.
- Waar ek nou wil wees, is by die see.
Where I want to be now is at the sea.
Word by Word: Where I now want be, is by the sea.
- Wat ons nie verstaan nie, is hoekom hy weg is.
What we don't understand is why he left.
Word by Word: What we not understand not, is why he away is.
The wat clause has its own nie ... nie.
Common Mistakes
Keeping main-clause word order inside the wat clause.
Wat ek het nodig, is 'n koppie koffie.Wat ek nodig het, is 'n koppie koffie.The wat clause is a subordinate clause, so het goes to its end: wat ek nodig het.
Sending is to the end of the sentence.
Wat ek nodig het, 'n koppie koffie is.Wat ek nodig het, is 'n koppie koffie.The wat clause fills first place in the main sentence, so the verb is must come right after it, in second place.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Pseudo-clefts build up to the point with wat ... is.
Related Patterns
- Starting With a Subordinate Clause
Explains why is comes straight after the opening wat clause.
Level 3 - wat (Whole Clause)Wat Referring to a Whole Clause
A different use of wat that points back to a statement already made.
Level 4 - Verb Second After a Fronted Word
The verb-second rule that puts is right after the clause.
Level 2 - om ... te + InfinitiveIn Order to: Om ... Te
The point after is can be an om te phrase.
Level 3 - Verb at the End in Subordinate Clauses
The rule that sends the verb to the end of the wat clause.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Pseudo-Clefts: wat ... is in Bubblegum
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