Separable Verbs at the End

Level 3

In a subordinate clause a separable verb stays in one piece at the end: Ek weet dat hy vroeg opstaan. (I know that he gets up early.)

How It Works

1. Main clause: split. A separable verb such as opstaan (get up) splits in a main clause: Hy staan vroeg op.

2. Subordinate clause: whole. After a joining word such as dat, omdat or as, the verb goes to the end (verb at the end). The prefix is already there, so the two join into one word:

  • Ek weet dat hy vroeg opstaan. (I know that he gets up early.)
  • Ons wag omdat die trein laat aankom. (We are waiting because the train is arriving late.)
  • Bel my as jy by die stasie aankom. (Call me when you arrive at the station.)

3. Written as one word. The joined verb is spelled as one word: opstaan, not op staan. The stress stays on the prefix: ópstaan.

4. With other verbs. The whole verb goes into the verb group (verbs together at the end):

  • ... dat hy vroeg moet opstaan (that he has to get up early)
  • ... dat hy vroeg opgestaan het (that he got up early), with ge- inside (opgestaan)
  • ... om vroeg op te staan (to get up early), with te inside (op te staan)

Examples (6)

  1. Ek weet dat hy vroeg opstaan.

    I know that he gets up early.

    Word by Word: I know that he early up-stands.

    Opstaan stays in one piece at the end of the dat clause.

  2. Ons wag omdat die trein laat aankom.

    We are waiting because the train is arriving late.

    Word by Word: We wait because the train late arrives.

  3. Bel my as jy by die stasie aankom.

    Call me when you arrive at the station.

    Word by Word: Call me if you at the station arrive.

  4. Sy sê dat sy haar jas aantrek.

    She says that she is putting on her coat.

    Word by Word: She says that she her coat on-puts.

  5. Ek weet nie of die winkel vandag oopmaak nie.

    I don't know whether the shop opens today.

    Word by Word: I know not whether the shop today open-makes not.

  6. Toe hy die deur oopgemaak het, het die hond uitgehardloop.

    When he had opened the door, the dog ran out.

    Word by Word: When he the door opened has, has the dog out-run.

    In the toe clause, the ge- form oopgemaak comes before het.

Common Mistakes

  • Splitting the verb in a subordinate clause.

    Ek weet dat hy staan vroeg op.
    Ek weet dat hy vroeg opstaan.

    After dat, the verb goes to the end and joins its prefix, so it does not split.

  • Writing the joined verb as two words.

    Ek weet dat hy vroeg op staan.
    Ek weet dat hy vroeg opstaan.

    When the prefix and verb stand together, they are written as one word.

  • Putting het before the ge- form.

    Ek weet dat hy vroeg het opgestaan.
    Ek weet dat hy vroeg opgestaan het.

    At the end of a clause, het comes after the ge- form.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Separable Verbs at the EndLevel 3

Learn This First

At the end of a subordinate clause, a separable verb joins back together.