Verb Second After a Fronted Word
The verb holds second place: Môre gaan ek werk toe. The subject comes after the verb.
How It Works
Afrikaans main clauses follow the verb-second rule. The finite verb (the one that shows tense, such as is, gaan, het or kan) is always the second element of a statement. The first element can be the subject, but it does not have to be. (Yes/no questions and commands are different: they start with the verb.)
1. Normal order. Ek gaan môre werk toe. (I'm going to work tomorrow.) See basic word order.
2. Starting with something else. Move môre to the front. The verb keeps second place, so the subject moves behind it:
- Môre gaan ek werk toe.
- In die somer swem ons elke dag. (In summer we swim every day.)
- Hierdie boek het ek al gelees. (I've already read this book.)
The first element can be one word or a whole phrase. In die somer counts as one element.
3. Only the finite verb moves. Participles, infinitives and separable particles stay at the end: Gister het ons 'n fliek gekyk. (Yesterday we watched a film.) Vanaand kan ek nie kom nie. (I can't come tonight.)
4. A whole clause can come first. When a subordinate clause starts the sentence, it fills first place, and the main verb comes right after the comma: Omdat dit reën, bly ons binne.
5. Words that do not count. The joining words en, maar, of and want stand outside the clause, so they do not cause inversion: Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek. Linking words such as daarom and dus do take first place (see linking words that move the verb).
Examples (6)
- Môre gaan ek werk toe.
Tomorrow I'm going to work.
Word by Word: Tomorrow go I work to.
- In die somer swem ons elke dag.
In summer we swim every day.
Word by Word: In the summer swim we every day.
The whole phrase in die somer is the first element.
- Gister het ons 'n fliek gekyk.
Yesterday we watched a film.
Word by Word: Yesterday have we a film watched.
Only het moves to second place. Gekyk stays at the end.
- Vanaand kook my pa.
Tonight my dad is cooking.
Word by Word: Tonight cooks my dad.
- Hierdie boek het ek al gelees.
I've already read this book.
Word by Word: This book have I already read.
The object comes first for emphasis, and the verb is still second.
- Op Sondag besoek ons my ouma.
On Sunday we visit my grandmother.
Word by Word: On Sunday visit we my grandma.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the subject before the verb after a fronted word.
Môre ek gaan werk toe.Môre gaan ek werk toe.Môre fills first place, so the verb must come next and the subject after it.
Inverting after want, as if it were a linking adverb.
Ek bly tuis, want is ek siek.Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek.Want joins two clauses without taking a place in either, so the clause after it keeps normal order.
How It Connects
Learn This First
When a sentence starts with something other than the subject, the verb still comes second.
Related Patterns
- Questions With a Question Word
Questions with a question word also put the verb second, right after the question word.
Level 1 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
A subordinate clause at the start fills first place, so the main verb follows it.
Level 3 - Sentence Order: STOMPI
STOMPI describes where the other sentence parts go around the second-place verb.
Level 3 - daarom/dusLinking Words That Move the Verb
Linking words such as daarom and dus take first place and cause inversion.
Level 3 - wantBecause (Want)
Want does not cause inversion, which is a common point of confusion.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Verb Second After a Fronted Word in Bubblegum
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