Questions vs Statements in Afrikaans: Part 1 – The Basics

📘 Who this is for: CAPS, IEB, Cambridge students (FAL and SAL Grades 7–12) and adult Afrikaans learners.

What is the difference between a statement (stelling)and a question (vraag) in Afrikaans?

Wanneer jy ‘n stelling in ‘n vraag verander ruil die werkwoord (verb) en die onderwerp (subject) om.

 

When you turn a statement into a question you switch the verb and the subject around.

Stelling	Vraag
Hy eet.	Eet hy?
Ek is honger.	Is ek honger?
Jan is stadig.	Is Jan stadig?
Pieter hou van koek.	Hou Pieter van koek?

 

Question Words

Partykeer sit ons ʼn ekstra vraag woord (extra question word) aan die begin van die sin om ons te vertel watse inlingting ons wil hê. Hier is voorbeelde van ‘n paar wat gereeld gebruik word.

 

Sometimes we add an extra question word at the start of the sentence to indicate what we would like to know. Here are examples of a few that are used regularly.

wie (who), wat (what), waar (where), hoekom (why), wanneer (when), hoe (how)

 

Stelling	Vraag
Ek is honger.	Hoekom is ek honger?
Piet skop die bal	Waar skop Piet die bal?
Jy eet.	Hoe eet jy?
Piet eet.	Wat eet Piet.
Ons eet vanaand.	Waar eet ons vanaand.

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Refrecences.

Lutrin, B. (1999). Afrikaans handbook & study guide: An English student’s guide to Afrikaans. Sandton: Berlut Books.

de Jonge, A. (n.d.). Leer Afrikaans sonder om jou rieme styf te loop. Graffiti Boeke.

De Klerk, P. F., Esterhuizen, B. J., Hammann, H. J. R., & Neethling, E. L. (1986). Afrikaans my taal. Maskew Miller Longman.

Nel, M. (2019). Afrikaans+: Everything you need to obtain top marks. LAPA Uitgewers.

 

The majority of this course content is based on the author’s experience, practice, and self-study.

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