toe (When)
When in the Past: Toe
Toe means when for one moment in the past: Sy was baie bly toe sy die nuus hoor.
How It Works
English uses when for the past, present and future. Afrikaans splits it: as or wanneer for repeated or future events, and toe for a single event in the past.
1. Verb at the end:
- Sy was baie bly toe sy die nuus hoor. (She was very happy when she heard the news.)
- Toe ek jonk was, het ek in Durban gewoon. (When I was young, I lived in Durban.)
2. Tense inside the toe-clause. Because toe already marks the past, the verb may keep its present form: toe sy die nuus hoor. The full past is also correct: toe sy die nuus gehoor het. Both are common. With is, use was: toe ek jonk was.
3. Toe first. A toe-clause at the start fills first place, and the main clause begins with its verb: Toe ons by die huis kom, het ons geëet. (When we got home, we ate.)
4. Toe meaning then. In a story, toe can also mean then. That toe takes first place on its own, and the verb comes straight after it: Toe gaan ons slaap. (Then we went to sleep.) Compare toe ons gaan slaap (when we went to sleep). See telling stories with toe.
5. Not the toe in huis toe. The toe in huis toe shows direction and has nothing to do with time.
Examples (6)
- Sy was baie bly toe sy die nuus hoor.
She was very happy when she heard the news.
Word by Word: She was very glad when she the news hears.
Toe already shows the past, so hoor can stay in its present form.
- Toe ek jonk was, het ek in Durban gewoon.
When I was young, I lived in Durban.
Word by Word: When I young was, have I in Durban lived.
- Toe ons by die huis kom, het ons geëet.
When we got home, we ate.
Word by Word: When we at the house come, have we eaten.
The toe-clause comes first, so the main clause starts with het.
- Hy het geskrik toe hy die slang sien.
He got a fright when he saw the snake.
Word by Word: He has frightened when he the snake sees.
- Dit het begin reën toe ons by die strand aankom.
It started raining when we arrived at the beach.
Word by Word: It has begun rain when we at the beach arrive.
The separable verb aankom joins up again at the end.
- Waar was jy toe ek gebel het?
Where were you when I called?
Word by Word: Where were you when I called have?
Here the toe-clause uses the full past: gebel het.
Common Mistakes
Using wanneer or as for one event in the past.
Gister was sy baie bly wanneer sy die nuus hoor.Gister was sy baie bly toe sy die nuus hoor.The sentence is about one moment yesterday, so it needs toe. Wanneer and as are for repeated or future events.
Keeping main-clause order after toe.
Toe ek was jonk, het ek in Durban gewoon.Toe ek jonk was, het ek in Durban gewoon.The conjunction toe sends the verb to the end of its clause.
Putting the subject first in the main clause after a toe-clause.
Toe ons by die huis kom, ons het geëet.Toe ons by die huis kom, het ons geëet.The toe-clause fills first place, so the main verb must come next.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Toe starts a subordinate clause about one moment in the past.
Related Patterns
- as (If)If and When: As
As is used for when with future or repeated events, not for one past event.
Level 2 - wanneerWhen: Wanneer
Wanneer also means when, but not for a single past event.
Level 2 - as / wanneer / toeAs, Wanneer or Toe?
This entry compares the three words for when.
Level 3 - toe (In Stories)Telling Stories: Toe and the Present
Toe meaning then keeps the verb in second place instead of sending it to the end.
Level 3 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
A toe-clause often starts the sentence, which makes the main clause begin with its verb.
Level 3 - wasWas: The Past of Is
With is, a toe-clause uses its past form was: toe ek jonk was.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice toe (When) in Bubblegum
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