wat (Relative)
Relative Wat
Wat means who, which or that in a relative clause, for people and things alike: die man wat hier woon (the man who lives here).
How It Works
1. One word for who, which and that. Wat works for people, animals and things:
- die man wat hier woon (the man who lives here)
- die boek wat ek lees (the book that I am reading)
- alles wat ek het (everything that I have)
2. The verb goes to the end. A relative clause follows the verb-at-the-end rule: die man wat hier woon, die kos wat sy gemaak het.
3. Inside a longer sentence. When the relative clause comes in the middle, the main verb follows straight after it, usually after a comma: Die kinders wat buite speel, is my neefs. (The children who are playing outside are my cousins.)
4. Wat cannot be dropped. English can say the book I am reading. Afrikaans always needs wat: die boek wat ek lees.
5. After a preposition. Wat is not used straight after a preposition. For people use preposition + wie (die vrou met wie ek praat). For things use waar + preposition (die pen waarmee ek skryf).
Examples (6)
- Die man wat hier woon, is my oom.
The man who lives here is my uncle.
Word by Word: The man who here lives, is my uncle.
The main verb is follows straight after the relative clause.
- Die boek wat ek lees, is baie goed.
The book I'm reading is very good.
Word by Word: The book that I read, is very good.
- Dankie vir alles wat jy vir my gedoen het.
Thank you for everything that you have done for me.
Word by Word: Thanks for everything that you for me done have.
- Die kinders wat buite speel, is my neefs.
The children who are playing outside are my cousins.
Word by Word: The children who outside play, are my cousins.
- Die kos wat sy gemaak het, was heerlik.
The food she made was delicious.
Word by Word: The food that she made has, was delicious.
In the past, het goes to the very end of the relative clause.
- Ek soek 'n woonstel wat naby die werk is.
I'm looking for a flat that is close to work.
Word by Word: I seek a flat that near the work is.
Common Mistakes
Using wie on its own for people.
Die man wie hier woon, is my oom.Die man wat hier woon, is my oom.Wie is only used after a preposition or in wie se. On its own, the relative word is always wat, even for people.
Keeping the verb in second place in the relative clause.
die man wat woon hierdie man wat hier woonA relative clause sends its verb to the end.
Leaving out wat, as English can leave out that.
Die boek ek lees, is goed.Die boek wat ek lees, is goed.Afrikaans cannot drop the relative word. Wat must always be there.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Relative wat starts a subordinate clause that describes a noun.
Related Patterns
- Preposition + wieRelative Wie After a Preposition
After a preposition, a person is referred to with wie instead of wat.
Level 3 - waarmee/waarop/waarinRelative Waarmee, Waarop, Waarin
After a preposition, a thing is referred to with waar + preposition.
Level 3 - wie seWhose: Wie Se
Wie se means whose in a relative clause.
Level 3 - waar (Relative)Relative Waar for Places
Waar starts a relative clause about a place.
Level 3 - wat (Whole Clause)Wat Referring to a Whole Clause
Wat can also refer back to a whole statement.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice wat (Relative) in Bubblegum
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