Preposition + wie
Relative Wie After a Preposition
After a preposition, a person is referred to with wie: die vrou met wie ek praat (the woman I am talking to).
How It Works
1. Preposition first, then wie. Put the preposition before wie, at the start of the relative clause. The verb goes to the end:
- die vrou met wie ek praat (the woman I'm talking to)
- die man vir wie ek werk (the man I work for)
- die mense by wie ons gebly het (the people we stayed with)
2. No preposition at the end. English often leaves the preposition at the end: the man I work for. Afrikaans moves it before wie.
3. Wie needs a preposition. In a relative clause, wie appears only after a preposition or in wie se (whose). Without a preposition, use wat: die vrou wat ek ken.
4. People vs things. For things, use waar + preposition written as one word: die pen waarmee ek skryf. For people, standard Afrikaans uses preposition + wie: die vriend aan wie ek skryf (the friend I write to).
5. Fixed prepositions. Many verbs have a fixed preposition, and it moves in front of wie: wag vir → die vriend vir wie ek wag (the friend I am waiting for).
Examples (6)
- Die vrou met wie ek praat, is my buurvrou.
The woman I'm talking to is my neighbor.
Word by Word: The woman with whom I talk, is my neighbor.
- Die man vir wie ek werk, is baie vriendelik.
The man I work for is very friendly.
Word by Word: The man for whom I work, is very friendly.
- Die mense by wie ons gebly het, was baie gasvry.
The people we stayed with were very hospitable.
Word by Word: The people at whom we stayed have, were very hospitable.
- Wie is die vriend vir wie jy wag?
Who is the friend you are waiting for?
Word by Word: Who is the friend for whom you wait?
Wag vir keeps its preposition, which moves before wie.
- Die kind aan wie ek die boek gegee het, lees baie.
The child I gave the book to reads a lot.
Word by Word: The child to whom I the book given have, reads much.
- Sy is die meisie op wie hy verlief is.
She is the girl he is in love with.
Word by Word: She is the girl on whom he in-love is.
Verlief op (in love with) keeps its preposition op.
Common Mistakes
Using waar + preposition for a person.
Die vrou waarmee ek praat, is my buurvrou.Die vrou met wie ek praat, is my buurvrou.In standard Afrikaans, waar + preposition is for things. For a person, use the preposition + wie.
Using wat after a preposition.
Die man vir wat ek werk, is vriendelik.Die man vir wie ek werk, is vriendelik.Wat is not used straight after a preposition. For a person, use wie.
Leaving the preposition at the end, as in English.
Die man wie ek vir werk, is vriendelik.Die man vir wie ek werk, is vriendelik.The preposition goes before wie at the start of the relative clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
After a preposition, a relative clause about a person uses wie.
Related Patterns
- waarmee/waarop/waarinRelative Waarmee, Waarop, Waarin
The matching pattern for things: die pen waarmee ek skryf.
Level 3 - wie seWhose: Wie Se
The other place where wie appears in a relative clause: die man wie se kar gesteel is.
Level 3 - Verbs With Fixed Prepositions
Fixed prepositions such as wag vir move before wie.
Level 3 - wat/wieWhat and Who
Wie as a question word: Wie is dit?
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Preposition + wie in Bubblegum
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