Tricky Afrikaans prepositions: part 2 – deur (by)

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

Prepositions don't always line up neatly between Afrikaans and English. English speakers are often thought direct translations of words that don't always work in context. Learn how to use "deur" and "by" in Afrikaans. They both can be used like the English word "by" depending on the situation.

How to say "by" in Afrikaans

In English the word by can fill three different roles in a sentence 

Responsibility – who is responsible for the action

The man was arrested by the police.

Manner – how the action is being accomplished.

I will learn more about penguins by going to the library.

Place – where something is

The man by the tree is friendly.

In Afrikaans however we use different words for these different roles

 by (Responsibility) – deur

Here "deur" is used to tell us who is responsible for the action.

Example 1

The cake was baked by my mother.

Die koek is deur my ma gebak.

Example 2

The window was broken by the boy.

Die venster is gebreek deur die seun.

Example 3

The song was sung by the choir.

Die lied is deur die koor gesing.

by (manner) – deur te 

"Deur te" is used when we describe how something is being done.

When "deur" used with a "te" after it

 is usually used like English word "by."

Example 1

By eating I gain weight. 

Deur te eet tel ek gewig op.

Example 2

I did better in my exams by studying more.

Ek het beter in my eksamen gedoen deur meer te studeer.

To learn more about how to use "te" in Afrikaans go here.

by (place) – by

We use "by" to show that something is close to something else.

Example 1

I stand by the door.

Ek staan by die deur.

Example 2

The house by the church is very old.

Die huis by die kerk is baie oud.

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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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