Afrikaans/Vocabulary/Conjunctions
This page will act as a sort of guide to the individual uses of the Afrikaans conjunctions in correspondance to their English counterparts. This page does not cover 'Conjunctive Adverbs', strictly remaining to pure conjunctions.
General DefinitionsEdit
- Dependent Clause → A dependent clause is a clause that cannot exist without an independent clause, otherwise it remains grammatically incorrect.
- I love her. = No further change or addition to the sentence is required.
- Independent Clause → An independent clause is a clause that can exist as a sole entity, no conjunction required.
- While I love her... = An independent clause is required to finish the sentence's meaning.
- Coordinating Conjunction → A conjunction that links together two clauses of the same grammatical value. Conjunctions with such properties generally form SVO and VSO structures. Concerning punctuation, these conjunctions are preceded by a comma. Represented here with a superscript, C.
- Subordinate Conjunction → A conjunction that links together a dependent clause to an independent clause. Conjunctions with such properties generally form SOV structures. Concerning punctuation, these conjunctions never receive any sort of punctuation mark (with exception to al), unless it is also composed of non-conjunctional elements (such as an adverb or verb) in which a comma does precede it. Represented here with a superscript, S.
- Correlative Conjunction → A conjunction that links together phrases of the same grammatical value. Conjunctions with such properties generally form SVO and VSO structures. Concerning punctuation, and like coordinating conjunctions, they are preceded by a comma when required to be. Represented here with a superscript, R.
For easier searching, a general list of English conjunctions with their possible translations is provided within the table below.
General List of Conjunctions | ||
---|---|---|
English | Afrikaans | |
after
|
nadat
ná
| |
and
|
en
| |
albeit
|
alhoewel
hoewel
| |
although
|
alhoewel
hoewel
ofskoon
| |
and
|
en
| |
and yet
|
maar tog
| |
as
|
aangesien
namate
soos
terwyl
toe
| |
as far as
|
sover
insover
| |
as if
|
asof
| |
as long as
|
solank
| |
as much as
|
soveel as wat
| |
as soon as
|
sodra
so gou as (wat)
| |
as though
|
asof
| |
as well as
|
sowel ... as
asook
sowel as
| |
because
|
omdat
want
omrede
oordat
| |
before
|
voor(dat)
of
alvorens
eer(dat)
| |
both ... and
|
sowel ... as
| |
but
|
maar
| |
by the time
|
wanneer
| |
either ... or
|
óf ... óf
hetsy ... hetsy
| |
even if
|
(selfs) al
| |
even though
|
(selfs) al
| |
ever since
|
van(dat)
| |
except that
|
behalwe (dat)
buiten (dat)
| |
followed by
|
gevolg deur
| |
for
|
want
| |
how
|
hoe
| |
however
|
hoe ook al
soos (wat)
| |
given that
|
aangesien
| |
if
|
as
indien
of
| |
if only
|
as ... maar
| |
inasmuch as
|
aangesien
| |
insover as
|
sover
insover
| |
in case
|
(vir) ingeval
| |
in order that
|
sodat
| |
in that
|
deurdat
| |
in the event that
|
in die geval (dat)
vir ingeval
| |
just like
|
net soos
| |
lest
|
uit vrees (dat)
| |
let alone
|
laat staan
wat nog te sê...
| |
like
|
(as)of
| |
much as
|
soos (wat)
| |
neither ... nor
|
nóg ... nóg
| |
nor
|
ook nie
| |
not
|
nie ... nie
| |
notwithstanding
|
nieteenstaande
| |
not forgetting (that)
|
nie te vergete nie
| |
not only ... but (also)
|
nie net ... nie, maar ook
| |
not to mention
|
wat nog te sê
| |
not to say
|
om nie te sê ... nie
| |
now (that)
|
noudat
| |
on account of
|
deur(dat)
| |
once
|
sodra
so gou as (wat)
| |
only
|
maar
| |
only if
|
eers
| |
or
|
of
oftewel
| |
provided (that)
|
mits
| |
rather than
|
eerder as om
| |
save
|
behalwe
| |
seeing as/that
|
aangesien
siende dat
| |
since
|
sedert
van(dat)
sinds
aangesien
| |
so
|
so
sodat
| |
so much so (that)
|
soveel so (dat)
soseer (dat)
| |
so that
|
sodat
opdat
| |
such that
|
sodat
| |
supposing (that)
|
gestel (dat)
| |
than
|
as
| |
that
|
dat
| |
the ... the
|
hoe ... hoe
hoe ... des te
| |
the way (that)
|
soos
| |
though
|
alhoewel
hoewel
ofskoon
| |
till
|
tot(dat)
| |
to say nothing of
|
om nie eens van ... te praat nie
| |
to think (that)
|
om te dink (that)
| |
unless
|
tensy
| |
until
|
tot(dat)
| |
what is more
|
wat nog te sê
| |
when
|
toe
as
wanneer
met dié dat
metdat
| |
whenever
|
sodra
telkens
wanneer
| |
where
|
waar
waarheen
waarnatoe
waarvandaan
| |
wherever
|
waar ook al
waarheen ook al
waarnatoe ook al
waarvandaan ook al
| |
whereas
|
terwyl
| |
whether
|
of
| |
whether ... or (not)
|
of ... of (nie)
| |
while
|
terwyl
onderwyl
| |
while [PERS.] is at it
|
terwyl [PERS.] aan die gang is
| |
whilst
|
terwyl
onderwyl
| |
yet
|
dog
maar tog
|
List of Individual Uses of ConjunctionsEdit
Aangesien |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Another alternate form, siende dat is considered both an Anglicism and a colloquialism. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Omdat" |
(Selfs) Al |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
The grammatical structure following al is unusual for a subordinate conjunction. It ends up forming a VSO order. Another odd property is in its punctuation: Unlike other subordinate conjunctions, it is always preceded by a comma. |
|
Al(hoewel) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Like the English although and though, alhoewel tends to be used at the beginning of sentences, and hoewel in the centre. |
|
Alvorens |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered formal when compared to voor(dat). |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Voor(dat)"; "Eer(dat)" |
As (wat3) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
1 When in the sense of when, indien can be used if to make sure to differentiate when and if.
2 In colloquial speech, one may add wat. However, it may only be done if a finite verb follows the conjunction. 3 When in the sense of when, wanneer can be used if to make sure to differentiate when and if. When coupled with net, it is modified into meaning just when, which is a general time frame as opposed to met dié dat, which refers to two occurrences at the exact same instant. Informal settings can have "net as" contracted into nes. However, this contraction is possible in the case of net soos. |
|
Conjunctive Phrases |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: 1 "Indien"; "Of"; 3; 4 "Wanneer"; "Met dié dat" |
(As)of |
---|
|
Asook |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered to be quite formal. Informal usage would prefer sowel ... as. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Sowel ... as" |
As ... maar |
---|
|
Behalwe |
---|
|
Dat |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
When in a subordinate position, it is possible to exclude dat from a sentence. When used in such a manner, the word order changes: With the conjunction, an SOV order is produced while the omission produces an SVO order. Occasions in which this occurs mimics English.
It's not uncommon for some definitions of dat to be replaced by wat in colloquial usage. |
|
Conjunctive Phrases |
|
Deurdat |
---|
|
Dog |
---|
|
Eer(dat) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Uncommon form of voor(dat). |
FOR USAGE, SEE: "Voor(dat)". |
Eers |
---|
|
En |
---|
|
Gevolg deur |
---|
|
Hoe |
---|
|
+ "ook al" |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Soos" |
Hoe ... Des te |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
More formal than hoe ... hoe. |
|
Hoe ... Hoe |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Less formal but more common than hoe ... des te. |
|
Hoewel |
---|
SEE: "Alhoewel" |
Indien |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered formal. In contrast to as, it adds a definitiveness to a statement and removes any doubt. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "As"; "Asof" |
(Vir) Ingeval |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
If to add vir, it more accurately translates to In the event that.... |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Dat" |
Insover |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered more formal than sover. FOR EXTRA NOTES, SEE: "Sover". |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Sover" |
Laat staan |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Another possible construction is wat nog te sê..., however, this more accurately translates as what is more... or not to mention.... |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Wat nog te sê..." |
Met dié dat (Metdat) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
To contrast the other meanings of when, met dié dat (metdat being the informal and uncommon variant) refers to simultaneous occurrence of action. As for a general, just when, net as is used. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "As" |
Maar |
---|
|
Maar tog |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Though itself marked as a conjunction, composed of and and yet, it more accurately translates as but still as tog is an adverb. |
|
Mits |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
More formal usage may use met dien verstande dat instead. |
|
Nadat or Ná |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
If -dat is omitted, usually if after a preposition, an accent is added to na. Thus: ná |
|
Namate |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
A slightly more formal usage when compared to soos. |
|
Net soos |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
In informal settings, the conjunction can be contracted into nes. However, this contraction is possible in the case of net as. |
|
FOR "NES", SEE SIMILAR MEANINGS: "As" |
Nie ... nie |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
The double negative in Afrikaans is very complicated, with many different rules of which shan't be covered here. Also, unlike English, the conjunction is subordinate and not coordinating. |
|
Nie net ... nie, maar ook |
---|
|
Nie te vergete nie |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
bygesê (dat) is another possible usage. |
|
Nieteenstaande |
---|
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Laat staan" |
Nóg ... Nóg |
---|
|
Noudat |
---|
|
Of |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
4 This is never in the past tense. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Of ... of" |
Of ... of (nie) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Another form is as of ... dan wel (nie), which is considered somewhat formal. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Of" |
Óf ... óf |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Another form is as hetsy ... hetsy, however, this isn't nearly as common. |
|
Ofskoon |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered formal and in some sense, uncommon. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Sover" |
Oftewel |
---|
|
Om nie eens van ... te praat nie |
---|
|
Om nie te sê ... nie |
---|
|
Omdat |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
One must be careful in differentiating between omdat and want. Though the two almost always overlap, there is a still minor difference between the two besides that omdat is classified as a subordinating conjunction and want as a coordinating conjunction. Omdat gives a sense of cause for the other clause, whereas want gives a sense of reason.
Because want is a coordinating conjunction, it can never start a sentence, only the subordinate, omdat can. When in the middle of the sentence however, want can be used in every situation, and omdat cannot.
Omdat has a formal form, omrede and an uncommon form, oor(dat). |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Want"; "Aangesien" |
Omrede |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Formal when compared to omdat. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Omdat" |
Onderwyl |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
More formal form of terwyl. |
FOR USAGE, SEE: "Terwyl". |
Ook nie |
---|
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Nóg ... nóg" |
Oor(dat) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Uncommon form of omdat. |
FOR USAGE, SEE: "Omdat". |
Opdat |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered very formal and very uncommon when compared to sodat. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Sodat" |
Sedert |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Slightly more common than van(dat).
Also has the rare alternate form, sinds. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "(Van)dat" |
So |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Exists as a subordinating conjunction in Afrikaans rather than a coordinating conjunction.
In any instance that it is a shortening of so that, the conjunction used is sodat. |
|
Sodat |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
The much more-frequently used conjunction when compared to opdat. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Opdat" |
Sodra |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered less formal than so gou as. |
|
So gou as (wat) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered more formal than sodra. |
|
Solank |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
In informal settings, one can add "... as wat". |
|
Soos (wat) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
3 Considered slightly less formal than namate. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "(As)of" |
Soveel as wat |
---|
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Insover" |
Sover |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered less formal than insover. The aforementioned insover is often not used when expressing opinion, this typically reserved for sover.
One difference lies in "As far as one is concerned", which instead forms as 'Wat [POSS.] betref'.
|
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Insover" |
Sowel ... as (Sowel as) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Another form is as èn ... èn, however, this isn't nearly as common. As for the contracted form, sowel as and the alternate form, beide ... en are both considered to be Anglicisms. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Asook" |
Telkens |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Considered more formal and less common than both sodra and wanneer. |
|
Tensy |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
When using the hypothetical conditional, Afrikaans uses the present tense rather than the past. |
|
Terwyl |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Is the general and less formal form of onderwyl. |
|
Terwyl [PERS.] aan die gang is |
---|
|
Toe |
---|
|
Tot(dat) |
---|
|
Van(dat) |
---|
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Sedert" |
Voor(dat) |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
Voor(dat) is the general form of before, its synonyms, alvorens and eer(dat) being uncommon or formal. |
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Alvorens"; "Eer(dat)" |
A Waar; B Waarheen; Waarnatoe; C Waarvandaan |
---|
|
+ "ook al" |
|
Wanneer |
---|
|
Want |
---|
USAGE NOTE: |
One must be careful in differentiating between omdat and want. Though the two almost always overlap, there is a still minor difference between the two besides that omdat is classified as a subordinating conjunction and want as a coordinating conjunction. Omdat gives a sense of cause for the other clause, whereas want gives a sense of reason.
Because want is a coordinating conjunction, it can never start a sentence, only the subordinate, omdat can. When in the middle of the sentence however, want can be used in every situation, and omdat cannot.
|
|
Wat nog te sê |
---|
|
FOR SIMILAR MEANINGS, SEE: "Laat staan" |