Mastering Afrikaans Pronouns: Part 1 – Personal Pronouns

 

Learn how to use personal pronouns as either the subject or the object. By the end, you will have laid the groundwork for using pronouns in Afrikaans.

Die persoonlike voornaamwoorde (The personal pronoun)

Die persoonlike voornaamwoord staan in die plek van die naamwoord. Dit word gebruik vir mense.

The personal pronoun replaces the noun. It is used for people.

The personal pronouns are: ek, jy, hy, sy, ons, julle, hulle

Personal Pronouns	Personal Pronoun (example)
Ek (I)	Ek eet die koek.
Jy (you)	Jy eet die koek.
Hy (he)	Hy eet die koek.
Sy (she)	Sy eet die koek.
Ons (we)	Ons eet die koek.
Julle (you – more than one person)	Julle eet die koek.
Hulle (they)	Hulle eet die koek.

If the personal pronoun is the object of the sentence

As die persoonlike voornaamwoord die voorwerp van die sin is, verander dit gewoonlik. Voornaamwoorde wat na meer as een persoon verwys, bly gewoonlik dieselfde.

If the personal pronoun is the object of the sentence, it usually changes. Pronouns referring to more than one person usually stay the same.

 
The personal pronouns as objects are: my, jou, hom, haar, ons, julle, hulle

Personal Pronouns as Subject	Personal Pronouns Subject (examples)	Personal Pronoun as Object	Personal Pronoun as Object (examples)
Ek (I)	Ek eet die koek.	My (me)	Hy roep my.
Jy (you)	Jy eet die koek.	Jou (you)	Hy roep jou.
Hy (he)	Hy eet die koek.	Hom (him)	Hy roep hom.
Sy (she)	Sy eet die koek.	Haar (her)	Hy roep haar.
Ons (we)	Ons eet die koek.	Ons (us)	Hy roep ons.
Julle (you – more than one person)	Julle eet die koek.	Julle (you – more than one person)	Hy roep julle.
Hulle (they)	Hulle eet die koek.	Hulle (them)	Hy roep hulle.

Click the following link to go to the next lesson:

Mastering Afrikaans Pronouns: Part 2 – Possessive Pronouns

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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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