Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is, modelleer ons dit.

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Breakdown of Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is, modelleer ons dit.

• wees: to be
• dit: it
• sag: soft

Questions & Answers about Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is, modelleer ons dit.

What does hoe ... ook al mean in this sentence?

This is a common Afrikaans pattern meaning however ... or no matter how ....

So:

• Hoe sag ... ook al is = However soft ... is
• More naturally in English: No matter how soft ... is

The words ook al do not translate very literally here. Together with hoe, they create a concessive idea: something is true despite that condition.

A few similar patterns:

• Hoe moeilik dit ook al is = However difficult it is
• Waar hy ook al gaan = Wherever he goes
• Wat jy ook al sê = Whatever you say

Why is is at the end of the first clause?

Because Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is is a subordinate clause, and in Afrikaans subordinate clauses normally send the finite verb to the end.

So the order is:

• Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is
  • literally something like: however soft potter’s clay also all is

That final is is completely normal in this kind of clause.

Compare:

• Main clause: Die klei is sag. = The clay is soft.
• Subordinate clause: ... omdat die klei sag is. = ... because the clay is soft.