hetsy ... of
Whether ... or: Hetsy ... of
Name two choices and include both: Alle lede, hetsy jonk of oud, is welkom. (All members, whether young or old, are welcome.)
How It Works
1. Both options count. Hetsy ... of does not ask you to choose. It says that the statement is true either way:
- Behandel almal met respek, hetsy ryk of arm. (Treat everyone with respect, whether rich or poor.)
2. Two patterns. Put of or a second hetsy before the second option:
- hetsy motors of vragmotors
- hetsy motors, hetsy vragmotors (more formal still)
3. Short phrases. Hetsy most often joins two words or phrases, often set off by commas after the noun it describes: Alle lede, hetsy jonk of oud, is welkom.
4. With a clause. Hetsy can also start a clause. Then the verb goes to the end, and of nie is a common second option: Werkers kry die dag af, hetsy dit op 'n Maandag val of nie. The clause can also come first. The main clause after it often keeps its usual order: Hetsy jy daarvan hou of nie, televisie speel 'n groot rol in mense se lewens.
5. Not for questions. For "whether" in a reported question, use of: Ek weet nie of hy kom nie. See indirect questions.
Everyday Afrikaans: in speech, people usually say of ... of, or simply ... of ...: Jonk of oud, almal is welkom.
Spelling: hetsy is one word. It comes from Dutch het zij (be it).
Examples (5)
- Alle lede, hetsy jonk of oud, is welkom.
All members, whether young or old, are welcome.
Word by Word: All members, be-it young or old, are welcome.
- Behandel almal met respek, hetsy ryk of arm.
Treat everyone with respect, whether rich or poor.
Word by Word: Treat everyone with respect, be-it rich or poor.
- Die reëls geld vir alle voertuie, hetsy motors, hetsy vragmotors.
The rules apply to all vehicles, whether cars or trucks.
Word by Word: The rules apply for all vehicles, be-it cars, be-it trucks.
Repeating hetsy sounds even more formal than hetsy ... of.
- Klagtes kan hetsy per e-pos of per brief ingedien word.
Complaints can be submitted either by email or by letter.
Word by Word: Complaints can be-it by email or by letter submitted be.
- Werkers kry die dag af, hetsy dit op 'n Maandag val of nie.
Workers get the day off, whether it falls on a Monday or not.
Word by Word: Workers get the day off, be-it it on a Monday falls or not.
When hetsy starts a clause, the verb val goes to the end.
Common Mistakes
Using hetsy for "whether" in a reported question.
Ek weet nie hetsy hy kom nie.Ek weet nie of hy kom nie.Hetsy says that both options count. It cannot ask a question. For "whether" after weet, vra or wonder, use of.
Giving only one option.
Alle lede, hetsy jonk, is welkom.Alle lede, hetsy jonk of oud, is welkom.Hetsy needs a second option, introduced by of or by a second hetsy.
Writing hetsy as two words.
Alle lede, het sy jonk of oud, is welkom.Alle lede, hetsy jonk of oud, is welkom.Het sy means "she has". The conjunction is always one word: hetsy.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hetsy ... of means whether ... or.
Related Patterns
- ofOr
The everyday word for "or", and the word for "whether" in questions.
Level 1 - al dan nieWhether or Not: Al Dan Nie
Another formal way to cover both possibilities: yes or no.
Level 5 - sowel ... asBoth ... and: Sowel ... as
Sowel ... as also includes both options, as "both ... and".
Level 4 - Indirect Questions
Reported questions use of, never hetsy.
Level 3 - wie/wat ook alWhoever and Whatever
Another way to say that something holds no matter which option applies.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice hetsy ... of in Bubblegum
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