waar/wanneer
Where and When
Ask waar for a place and wanneer for a time: Waar is die stasie? (Where is the station?), Wanneer kom jy? (When are you coming?)
How It Works
Waar asks where something is or happens. Wanneer asks when.
- Waar is die badkamer? (Where is the bathroom?)
- Waar werk jou pa? (Where does your dad work?)
- Wanneer begin die skool? (When does school start?)
- Wanneer is jou verjaarsdag? (When is your birthday?)
Word order. As with every question word, the verb comes right after it and the subject follows: see questions with a question word.
Where from and where to. To ask where someone comes from or goes to, add vandaan or heen: Waar kom jy vandaan? See where from and where to.
Clock times. Wanneer asks about any time: a day, a month or a moment. For the exact hour, people usually say Hoe laat ...?: Hoe laat begin die fliek? (What time does the film start?). See telling the time.
Two more meanings. The word waar also means true: Is dit waar? (Is that true?). And wanneer can join two clauses, meaning when or whenever. Then the verb goes to the end: Bel my wanneer jy klaar is. See wanneer as a conjunction.
Examples (6)
- Waar woon jy?
Where do you live?
Word by Word: Where live you?
- Waar is die stasie?
Where is the station?
Word by Word: Where is the station?
- Wanneer kom jy?
When are you coming?
Word by Word: When come you?
- Wanneer is jou verjaarsdag?
When is your birthday?
Word by Word: When is your birthday?
- Waar werk jou pa?
Where does your dad work?
Word by Word: Where works your dad?
- Wanneer eet ons?
When are we eating?
Word by Word: When eat we?
Common Mistakes
Keeping the statement order after waar or wanneer.
Wanneer jy kom?Wanneer kom jy?In a direct question the verb comes right after the question word. The order Wanneer jy kom only appears inside a longer sentence, such as Bel my wanneer jy kom.
Translating Where are you from? word for word.
Waar is jy van?Waar kom jy vandaan?To ask where someone is from, end the question with vandaan, not van: Waar kom jy vandaan? or Waar is jy vandaan?
How It Connects
Learn This First
Waar and wanneer are question words that use question word order.
Related Patterns
- waar ... vandaan/heenWhere from and Where to
Add vandaan or heen to ask where from or where to.
Level 1 - hoe/hoeveelHow and How Much
Hoe laat asks for a clock time.
Level 1 - wanneerWhen: Wanneer
Wanneer can also join two clauses and send the verb to the end.
Level 2 - waar (Relative)Relative Waar for Places
Waar also starts relative clauses about places.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice waar/wanneer in Bubblegum
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