Making Tenses Easy in Afrikaans: Part 2 – Tenses and Auxiliary Verbs

If the sentence has axillary verbs

As die sin hulpwerkwoorde het, gaan hulle na die einde van die sin net soos hoofwerkwoorde. Die hulpwerkwoorde gaan net voor die hoofwerkwoord.

 

If the sentence has axillary verbs, they move to the back of the sentence just like the main verb. The axillary verbs go just before the main verb.

Past Tense	Present Tense	Future Tense
Ek het dit gaan doen.	Ek gaan dit doen.	Ek sal dit gaan doen.

 

Words that change between the present- and past tense.

Party woorde verander tussen die teenwoordige en verlede tyd.

 

Some words change between the present and the past tense.

 

Teenwoordige tyd	Verlede Tyd
Is (is, am, are)	Was (was)
Kan (can)	Kon (could)
Moet (must)	Moes (must)
Wil (want)	Wou (wanted)

 

The use of “wil” in Afrikaans

Die woord “wil” beteken nie dieselfde as die woord “will” in Engels nie. Die woord “wil” beteken eerder “want.” As gevolg daarvan kan mens die woord “wil” in beide die toekomstige tyd en die teenwoordige tyd gebruik. Die woord “sal” is die Afrikaanse ekwivalent van “will.”

 

The word “wil” does not mean the same as the English “will.” The word “wil” instead means “want.” Because of this we can use the word “wil” in both the future and past tense. The word “sal” is the Afrikaans Equivalent of the word “will.”

 

Present Tense	Future Tense
Ek wil fiets ry.	Ek sal fiets wil ry.
Ek wil ‘n nuwe krieket kolf hê.	Ek sal ’n nuwe fiets wil hê.

 

Words that change between the future and past tense

Die woord “sal” verander in “sou” in die verlede tyd.

 

The word “sal” turns into “sou” in die past tense.

Future Tense	Past Tense
Sal (will)	Sou (would have)

  

When does the past tense not get a “het”

As een van die volgende woorde in die sin verskyn, vervang die woord die rol van “het” in die verlede tyd. Die woord verander ook om by sy nuwe rol in te pas.

 

If one of the following words appears in a sentence, it replaces the role of the word “het” in the past tense. The word also changes to reflect its new role.

Presnet Tense	Voorbeeld	Past Tense	Voorbeeld
is	Ek is honger.	was	Ek was honger.
kan	Jy kan dit doen.	kon	Jy kon dit doen.
moet	Sy moet werk.	moes	Jy moes werk.
wil	Ek wil dit doen.	wou	Ek wou dit doen.

 

When do we not use "sal." 

Die woord ‘’sou’’ funksioneer dieselfde as die woorde was, kon, moes, wou.

 

The word ‘’sou’’ functions the same as the words was, kon, moes and wees.

Future Tense	Voorbeeld	Past Tense	Voorbeeld
sal	Ek sal gaan slaap.	sou	Ek sou gaan slaap.

  

"Is", "kan", "moet" and "wil" in the future tense

Die woorde beweeg na die einde van die sin in die toekomstige tyd, net voor die hoofwerkwoord net soos die ander hulpwerkwoorde.

 

These words move to the end of the sentence, just behind the main verb, just like other axillary verbs.

 

Present Tense	Future Tense
Ek wil dit doen.	Ek sal dit wil doen.
Sy kan kar ry.	Sy kon kar ry.

 

What happens to “is” in die future tense

Die woord “is” gaan na die einde van die sin en verander in “wees” in die toekomstige tyd.

 

The word “is” goes to the end of the sentence and turns into “wees” in the future tense

Past Tesnse	Present Tense	Future Tense
Ek was honger.	Ek is honger.	Ek sal honger wees.

  

Click the following link to go to the next lesson:      

Making Tenses Easy in Afrikaans: Part 3 – Using “ge-” in the Past Tense

 

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References.

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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