Verb at the End in Subordinate Clauses
After dat, omdat, as and similar words, the verb goes to the end: Ek weet dat hy moeg is.
How It Works
Afrikaans has two kinds of clauses. A main clause puts the finite verb second (see verb second). A subordinate clause, which begins with a subordinating conjunction, puts it last.
1. The basic pattern: conjunction + subject + rest + verb.
- Hy is moeg. → Ek weet dat hy moeg is. (I know that he's tired.)
- Sy is siek. → Sy bly tuis omdat sy siek is. (She's staying home because she's sick.)
2. Common subordinating conjunctions: dat, omdat, as, toe, terwyl, voordat, nadat, totdat and wanneer.
3. Two verbs. The finite verb joins the other verb at the end. With het, the participle comes first: omdat ons laat geëet het. With a modal, the modal comes first: dat sy môre kan kom. See verbs together at the end.
4. Separable verbs join up again at the end: Hy staan vroeg op. → omdat hy vroeg opstaan. See separable verbs at the end.
5. Negation. The first nie comes before the verb and the closing nie follows it: Ek weet dat hy nie moeg is nie.
6. Not every joining word does this. En, maar, of and want keep normal order: Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek.
When the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Omdat sy siek is, bly sy tuis. See starting with a subordinate clause.
Examples (6)
- Ek weet dat hy moeg is.
I know that he's tired.
Word by Word: I know that he tired is.
- Sy bly tuis omdat sy siek is.
She's staying home because she's sick.
Word by Word: She stays home because she sick is.
- Ons bly binne as dit reën.
We stay inside when it rains.
Word by Word: We stay inside if it rains.
- Ek dink dat sy môre kan kom.
I think that she can come tomorrow.
Word by Word: I think that she tomorrow can come.
With a modal, the modal comes before the infinitive at the end.
- Hy is honger omdat hy nie geëet het nie.
He's hungry because he hasn't eaten.
Word by Word: He is hungry because he not eaten has not.
The participle comes first, then het, then the closing nie.
- Sy sê dat die winkel om agtuur oopmaak.
She says that the shop opens at eight.
Word by Word: She says that the shop at eight open-makes.
The separable verb oopmaak joins up again at the end.
Common Mistakes
Keeping main-clause order after the conjunction.
Ek weet dat hy is moeg.Ek weet dat hy moeg is.Dat is a subordinating conjunction, so is must move to the end.
Putting het before the participle at the end.
Ons is honger omdat ons nog nie het geëet nie.Ons is honger omdat ons nog nie geëet het nie.At the end of a subordinate clause, the participle comes first and het follows it.
Sending the verb to the end after want.
Ek bly tuis, want ek siek is.Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek.Want is a coordinating word, so the clause after it keeps normal order. Use omdat if you want the verb at the end.
How It Connects
Learn This First
In a subordinate clause, all the verbs go to the end, unlike a main clause.
Related Patterns
- Verb Second After a Fronted Word
Main clauses put the verb second; subordinate clauses put it last.
Level 2 - datThat (Conjunction)
Dat is the most common word that sends the verb to the end.
Level 2 - omdatBecause (Omdat)
Omdat is a common subordinating conjunction for reasons.
Level 2 - Verbs Together at the End
When a subordinate clause ends in two or more verbs, their order follows fixed rules.
Level 3 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
A subordinate clause at the start makes the main clause begin with its verb.
Level 3 - want / omdatWant or Omdat?
Want and omdat both mean because, but only omdat sends the verb to the end.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- as (If)If and When: AsLevel 2
- nadatAfter (Nadat)Level 2
- terwylWhileLevel 2
- toe (When)When in the Past: ToeLevel 2
- totdatUntil (Totdat)Level 2
- voordatBefore (Voordat)Level 2
- wanneerWhen: WanneerLevel 2
- asofAs ifLevel 3
And 9 more in the full list.
Practice Verb at the End in Subordinate Clauses in Bubblegum
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