Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Waarskynlik sal ons sneeu sien, maar as daar reën is, bly ons binne en lees inligting oor die weer. - We will probably see snow, but if there is rain, we stay inside and read information about the weather.

waarskynlik is an adverb meaning probably or likely. In Afrikaans, if you start a main clause with an adverb, it triggers the verb-second (V2) rule: • The finite verb follows the adverb:
Waarskynlik sal ons sneeu sien
• The subject (ons) then follows the verb.
You can also position waarskynlik elsewhere: • After the finite verb: Ons sal waarskynlik sneeu sien
• Before the infinitive (less common): Ons sal sneeu waarskynlik sien

How is the future tense constructed in sal ons sneeu sien, and why is sien at the end of the clause?

Afrikaans forms the future with the auxiliary sal + infinitive: • sal is the finite verb meaning “will.”
• The main verb (sien, “see”) appears in infinitive form at the very end.
• Any object (here sneeu) comes before the infinitive: ons sal sneeu sien.
In a main clause, the finite verb must occupy second position (after any fronted element).

In the clause as daar reën is, why does the verb is come at the end, unlike the verb-second rule in main clauses?

Subordinate clauses in Afrikaans (introduced by as, omdat, terwyl, etc.) use verb-final word order: • as (if) introduces the clause.
• Subject/expletive (daar) and object (reën) follow.
• The finite verb (is) goes last.
Hence as daar reën is (“if there is rain”).

Why does the sentence use the present tense in bly ons binne en lees inligting oor die weer instead of the future tense?

That clause expresses a general or habitual condition (a “zero conditional”): when it rains, we habitually stay inside and read about the weather. In Afrikaans (as in English), the present tense is used for routines, general truths, and predictable outcomes, so there is no auxiliary sal here.

What is the function of maar in maar as daar reën is and why are maar and as used together?

maar is a coordinating conjunction meaning but, used to contrast two scenarios (snow vs. rain). Combining maar + as gives you but if: • Waarskynlik sal ons sneeu sien, maar as daar reën is, bly ons binne …

Why are there commas after sien and after is in the sentence?

• The comma after sien separates the main clause (Waarskynlik sal ons sneeu sien) from the following clause introduced by maar.
• The comma after is closes the subordinate clause (as daar reën is) before continuing the main clause.
In Afrikaans, you generally set off subordinate clauses with commas, much like in English.

Why is binne placed after bly in bly ons binne rather than before?

binne is an adverb of place (“inside”). In a typical Afrikaans main clause, adverbs of place follow the verb: Subject + verb + place-adverb → ons bly binne
Fronting binne would trigger V2 inversion or create a poetic/emphatic effect (e.g., Binne bly ons…).

What does inligting oor die weer mean, and why do we use oor + die weer?

• inligting = information (uncountable).
• oor = about (preposition for topics).
• die weer = the weather (definite, because it’s a specific subject known to speaker and listener).
Together: inligting oor die weer = information about the weather.

Could we say as dit reën instead of as daar reën is? Are both correct?

Yes.
• as dit reën (“if it rains”) is the most common way to express the condition.
• as daar reën is (“if there is rain”) is also correct but a bit more descriptive or formal. Both convey the same idea.

Is it possible to omit the subject ons in the second clause (… bly binne en lees …)? Why or why not?

No. In Afrikaans declarative sentences you generally cannot drop the subject pronoun. Omitting ons would leave the subject unclear or turn the phrase into an imperative. You need ons bly and ons lees to show that “we” are performing the actions.