want / omdat

Want or Omdat?

Level 3

want ek is siek: the verb stays second. omdat ek siek is: the verb goes to the end.

How It Works

Same meaning, different order.

  • Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek.
  • Ek bly tuis omdat ek siek is.

Both mean I'm staying home because I'm sick.

With more than one verb. After want, the verbs keep main-clause order. After omdat, they all go to the end (see verbs together at the end):

  • Sy is laat, want sy het die bus gemis.
  • Sy is laat omdat sy die bus gemis het.

(She is late because she missed the bus.)

Only omdat can go first. An omdat clause can start the sentence, and then the main verb comes straight after it (see subordinate clause first): Omdat ek siek is, bly ek tuis. A want clause always comes second.

Short answers. In speech, both can answer hoekom on their own: Hoekom lag jy? Omdat die storie so snaaks is. or Want die storie is so snaaks.

Tip: Want is the easy choice when you add a reason at the end. Use omdat when you want to put the reason first.

Examples (6)

  1. Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek.

    I'm staying home because I'm sick.

    Word by Word: I stay home, because I am sick.

  2. Ek bly tuis omdat ek siek is.

    I'm staying home because I'm sick.

    Word by Word: I stay home because I sick am.

  3. Omdat dit koud is, dra ek 'n baadjie.

    Because it's cold, I'm wearing a jacket.

    Word by Word: Because it cold is, wear I a jacket.

    The omdat clause comes first, so the main clause starts with its verb dra.

  4. Sy is laat, want sy het die bus gemis.

    She is late because she missed the bus.

    Word by Word: She is late, because she has the bus missed.

  5. Sy is laat omdat sy die bus gemis het.

    She is late because she missed the bus.

    Word by Word: She is late because she the bus missed has.

  6. Hoekom lag jy? Omdat die storie so snaaks is.

    Why are you laughing? Because the story is so funny.

    Word by Word: Why laugh you? Because the story so funny is.

Common Mistakes

  • Sending the verb to the end after want.

    Ek bly tuis, want ek siek is.
    Ek bly tuis, want ek is siek.

    Want keeps normal main-clause order: the verb comes right after the subject.

  • Keeping the verb second after omdat.

    Ek bly tuis omdat ek is siek.
    Ek bly tuis omdat ek siek is.

    Omdat sends the verb to the end of its clause.

  • Starting the sentence with want.

    Want dit koud is, dra ek 'n baadjie.
    Omdat dit koud is, dra ek 'n baadjie.

    Only an omdat clause can come before the main clause.

How It Connects

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

want / omdatLevel 3Want or Omdat?

Learn This First

Want and omdat both mean because but use different word order.

Words in This Pattern