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    Preposition + clause
    quickinfo

    The complement of a preposition may be a clause, which may be either finite, or infinitival. An example of a finite clause, indicated in square brackets, as complement of the preposition oor about follows:

    1
    Ons wag op 'n aanbeveling oor [of 'n lisensie toegestaan moet word].
    we wait on a recommendation about whether a license grant.PASS must.AUX.MOD be.AUX.PASS.PRS
    We are waiting for a recommendation about whether a license must be granted.

    In the example below, the infinitive is likewise indicated with square brackets, here as complement of the complex adposition pleks van in.place of instead of:

    2
    Pleks van [om so te reageer], moet ons die ander waardeer.
    in.place of for.COMP so PTCL.INF react.INF must.AUX.MOD we the other appreciate
    Instead of reacting in such a way, we must appreciate others.
    VivA-KPO
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    [+]Preposition + types of finite clauses

    Two types of finite clause may complement a preposition, namely i) a clause in which the preposition is selected by the relevant verb; and ii) a clause which functions as an adverbial clause, and in which the verb does not select a preposition.

    Preposition selected by verb + finite clause

    Prepositional verbs combine with objects by means of an obligatory preposition, forming an argument, as in this example with dui op point to, in which the complement is a complex NP:

    3
    Die statistiek dui op 'n kommerwekkende styging in misdaad.
    the statistics point to a anxiety.raising increase in crime
    Statistics point to a disturbing increase in crime.

    When a finite clause complements such a selected preposition, the clause must be preceded by an anticipatory R-pronoun, as in this example:

    4
    Ekonomiese aanwysers dui daar+op dat ons deur die ergste van die resessie is.
    economic indicators show R+on that.COMP we through the worst of the recession be.PRS
    Economic indicators show that we have passed the worst stage of the recession.
    VivA-KPO

    In some cases, the combination of R-pronoun plus preposition may be left out, especially if an indirect object, and hence the accompanying preposition, is not obligatory:

    5
    a. Herinner my, asseblief!
    Remind me, please!
    b. Ek herinner haar daar+aan dat sy haar ouers moet bel.
    I remind her R+to that.COMP she her parents must call
    I remind her that she must.AUX.MOD call her parents.
    c. Ek herinner haar dat sy haar ouers moet bel.
    I remind her that she her parents must call
    I remind her that she must call her parents.

    Note that the indirect object clause, marked by the R-pronouns plus preposition, in fact becomes a direct object clause as a result of the deletion, as in the following examples, which illustrate both possibilities:

    6
    a. Let asseblief op dat jou lidmaatskapsertifikaat verval het.
    watch please out that your membership.certificate expire have.AUX
    Please note that your membership certificate has expired.
    b. Let asseblief daar+op dat jou lidmaatskapsertifikaat verval het.
    watch please R+on that.COMP your membership.certificate expire have.AUX
    Please note that your membership certificate has expired.

    Finite clauses following unselected prepositions (acting as, or forming part of a conjunction) function as adverbial clauses. Two examples are given below:

    7
    a. Maak die vuur dood voor jy vertrek.
    make the fire dead before you depart
    Extinguish the fire before you leave.
    b. Voordat hy dit geproe het, het hy al drie groot slukke geneem.
    before.that he it taste.PST have.AUX have.AUX he already three big swallows take.PST
    Before he tasted it, he had already taken three big gulps.

    The combination of the preposition and the complementiser dat that is often lexicalised into a fixed idiomatic combination. The combination of preposition and complementiser may in some cases be shortened by deleting the complementiser: nadat (> ná) after and voordat (> voor) before. The colloquial form oordat (> oor) because, with its shortened form representing a reduction from the R-pronoun daaroor R.over about it, is illustrated in the following examples:

    8
    a. Sy kla daaroor dat die rekening so hoog is.
    she complain R.over that.COMP the bill so high be.PRS
    She complains about the fact that the bill is so high.
    b. Sy kla oordat die rekening so hoog is.
    she complain over.that the bill so high be.PRS
    She complains because the bill is so high.
    c. Sy kla oor die rekening so hoog is.
    she complain over the bill so high be.PRS
    She complains because the bill is so high.
    [+]Preposition + types of infinitival clauses

    Two types of infinitival clause may complement a preposition, depending on the function of the preposition in the containing structure, namely i) a clause in which the preposition is selected by the relevant verb; and ii) a clause which functions as an adverbial clause, and in which the verb does not select a preposition.

    Prepositional verbs combine with objects by means of an obligatory preposition, forming an argument, as in this example with droom van dream of, in which the complement is an NP:

    9
    Hy het gedroom van 'n reënboognasie.
    he have.AUX dream.PST of a rainbow.nation
    He dreamed of a rainbow nation.

    When an infinitival clause complements such a selected preposition, the clause must be preceded by an anticipatory R-pronoun, as in this example:

    10
    Almal droom daarvan om die wêreld te verander.
    everybody dreams R.of for.COMP the world PTCL.INF change.INF
    Everybody dreams of changing the world.

    As with finite clauses, the combination of R-pronoun plus preposition may be left out in some cases, as illustrated below:

    11
    individue wat droom om op hulle eie grond te kan boer
    individuals that.REL dream for.COMP on their own land PTCL.INF can.AUX.MOD farm.INF
    individuals who dream of being able to farm on their own land
    VivA-KPO

    Preposition not selected by verb + finite clause (adverbial phrase)

    Infinitival clauses following prepositions which are not selected function as adverbial clauses. The prepositions sonder without and deur through are characteristically involved. Note that the preposition deur replaces the infinitive particle om. Some examples are given below:

    12
    a. Hy loop kombuis toe sonder om te praat.
    he walk kitchen to without for.COMP PTCL.INF speak.INF
    He walks to the kitchen without speaking.
    b. Ons kan net geld kry deur te werk.
    we can.AUX.MOD only money get through to work
    We can only get money by working.
    References
      About this article
      Author(s): Ernst Kotzé, Adri Breed
      Category: Afrikaans Syntax
      Keywords: clausefiniteinfinitivalfunctionselectednon selectedR-pronoundoubled finited clauseunselected prepositionadverbial clause
      Version: 1.0, May 2020
      Version history:
      version editor(s) date remarks
      1.0 Ernst Kotzé, Adri Breed May 2020
      This is a beta version.
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