oorsteek or oortree?

Level 4

Listen for the stress: OORsteek splits (Ons steek die straat oor), but oorTREE stays whole (Hy oortree die reël).

How It Works

1. Same prefixes, two kinds of verbs. Oor-, deur-, om-, onder- and voor- can begin both kinds of verbs. The stress tells you which kind you have:

  • Separable: stress on the prefix, as in OORsteek (cross over).
  • Inseparable: stress on the verb, as in oorTREE (break a rule).

2. How each kind behaves.

  • Separable, like other separable verbs: Ons steek die straat oor. The participle has ge- inside: oorgesteek. Te also goes inside: om oor te steek.
  • Inseparable: Hy oortree die reël. The participle has no ge-: Hy het die reël oortree. Te goes in front: om te oortree.

3. Same spelling, two verbs. Some verbs exist in both kinds, with different meanings:

  • VOORkom (happen, occur): Sulke foute kom dikwels voor. Past: voorgekom.
  • voorKOM (prevent): Goeie slaap kan baie siektes voorkom. Past: voorkom.
  • ONdergaan (go down, set): Die son het ondergegaan. onderGAAN (undergo): Hy het 'n operasie ondergaan.

4. A rough guide to meaning. Separable verbs often keep a literal sense of place or direction: oorsteek (cross over), omdraai (turn around), deurlees (read through). Inseparable verbs are often more abstract: oortuig (convince), oorweeg (consider), omhels (embrace), ondersoek (examine), onderbreek (interrupt). This is a tendency, not a rule, so learn each verb with its stress.

5. In subordinate clauses they look alike. At the end of a clause both kinds are written as one word (see separable verbs at the end): dat ons die straat oorsteek, dat hy die reël oortree. Only the stress is different.

Examples (6)

  1. Ons steek die straat by die robot oor.

    We cross the street at the traffic light.

    Word by Word: We cross the street by the robot over.

    In South Africa a robot is a traffic light. Oorsteek is separable, so oor goes to the end.

  2. Hy oortree die reëls elke dag.

    He breaks the rules every day.

    Word by Word: He over-treads the rules every day.

    Oortree is inseparable, so it stays in one piece.

  3. Die kinders het die straat versigtig oorgesteek.

    The children crossed the street carefully.

    Word by Word: The children have the street carefully over-ge-crossed.

  4. Sy het die spoedgrens oortree en 'n boete gekry.

    She broke the speed limit and got a fine.

    Word by Word: She has the speed limit over-treaded and a fine got.

    The inseparable participle oortree has no ge-.

  5. Sulke foute kom dikwels voor.

    Mistakes like these happen often.

    Word by Word: Such mistakes come often before.

    VOORkom (occur) is separable.

  6. Goeie slaap kan baie siektes voorkom.

    Good sleep can prevent many illnesses.

    Word by Word: Good sleep can many illnesses prevent.

    voorKOM (prevent) is inseparable; its past form is voorkom, without ge-.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting ge- into an inseparable verb.

    Hy het die reël oorgetree.
    Hy het die reël oortree.

    Oortree has an unstressed prefix, so it is inseparable and its participle takes no ge-.

  • Leaving a separable verb whole in a main clause.

    Ons oorsteek die straat.
    Ons steek die straat oor.

    Oorsteek has a stressed prefix, so in a main clause the prefix goes to the end.

  • Splitting an inseparable verb around te.

    Dit is verkeerd om die wet oor te tree.
    Dit is verkeerd om die wet te oortree.

    An inseparable verb never splits, so te goes in front of the whole verb.

How It Connects

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oorsteek or oortree?Level 4

Learn This First

Prefix stress distinguishes verbs that separate and admit internal ge- or te from verbs that remain together.

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Patterns that build on this one.