as ... maar

1. A wish without a main clause. English says if only. Afrikaans uses as with the small word maar and stops there: As ek maar geweet het! Here maar does not mean but; it adds longing, like only (see maar as a particle).

2. Word order. Maar comes straight after the subject, and after a pronoun object if there is one. The verb goes to the end, as in any as-clause:

• As ek maar meer tyd gehad het! (If only I had more time!)
• As hy my maar wil glo! (If only he would believe me!)

3. Which verb form?

• Regret about the past: ge- form + het: As ek maar beter geluister het! (If only I had listened better!)
• Wish about now: was or kon: As ek maar ryk was! (If only I were rich!), As ek maar kon swem! (If only I could swim!)
• Wish that something would happen: wil + infinitive: As dit maar wil reën! (If only it would rain!) Here wil means would, not want.

4. Net for extra feeling. Net can follow maar: As hy maar net wil luister! (If only he would just listen!)

5. Verb first. The same wish can drop as and start with the verb: Was ek maar weer jonk! (If only I were young again!) This sounds a little more literary.