Die meubels kan môre aanmekaar gesit word.

Questions & Answers about Die meubels kan môre aanmekaar gesit word.

Why is die used here? Does it mean the for plural nouns too?

Yes. Die is the normal definite article in Afrikaans, and it is used for both singular and plural nouns.

  • die tafel = the table
  • die tafels = the tables
  • die meubels = the furniture / the pieces of furniture

So unlike English, Afrikaans does not change the article for number.

Why is meubels plural when English usually says furniture?

That is a very common point of confusion for English speakers.

In English, furniture is usually an uncountable noun. In Afrikaans, meubel means a piece of furniture, and meubels is the plural, meaning furniture / pieces of furniture.

So:

  • 'n meubel = a piece of furniture
  • meubels = furniture / furniture items

Even though English often uses singular-looking furniture, Afrikaans naturally uses the plural meubels in many cases.

What does môre mean here?

Here môre means tomorrow.

So Die meubels kan môre ... means The furniture can tomorrow ..., which in natural English becomes The furniture can be assembled tomorrow.

A learner may know môre from Goeie môre (Good morning), but in this sentence it clearly means tomorrow, not morning.

What does aanmekaar sit mean?

Aanmekaarsit / aanmekaar sit means to put together, to assemble, or to join together.

In this sentence, it refers to assembling the furniture.

Literally, aanmekaar means something like together, attached, or in one piece, and sit here has the sense of put/set rather than just sit down.

So die meubels aanmekaar sit = to assemble the furniture.

Why is it aanmekaar gesit and not just gesit?

Because the full verb is aanmekaar sit, not just sit.

When Afrikaans forms the past participle of a separable verb like this, the ge- goes before the verb part:

  • aanmekaar sit → aanmekaar gesit

So gesit on its own would not give the full meaning. The aanmekaar part is essential because it tells you that the meaning is assembled / put together, not just put or sat.

Why does kan ... gesit word mean can be assembled?

This is the passive with a modal verb.

So the pattern is:

kan + past participle + word
= can be + past participle

Compare:

  • Die huis kan gebou word. = The house can be built.
  • Die meubels kan aanmekaar gesit word. = The furniture can be assembled.

Even though word often literally means become, in passive sentences it is often best translated as part of be in English.

Why is word at the end of the sentence?

Because Afrikaans word order often puts the finite verb in second position and the other verb forms at the end.

Here:

So the structure is very normal Afrikaans:

Subject + finite verb + other information + remaining verbs

That is why word appears at the end.

Is this a passive sentence?

Yes. It is passive.

The sentence focuses on the furniture, not on the person doing the assembling.

  • Passive: Die meubels kan môre aanmekaar gesit word.
  • Active: Ons kan die meubels môre aanmekaar sit.
    or Iemand kan die meubels môre aanmekaar sit.

In English, the passive is The furniture can be assembled tomorrow.

Can môre go somewhere else in the sentence?

Yes, Afrikaans allows some flexibility with adverbs like môre.

For example:

  • Die meubels kan môre aanmekaar gesit word.
  • Môre kan die meubels aanmekaar gesit word.

Both are possible. The first one is a very neutral order. The second one puts more emphasis on tomorrow.

So the meaning stays basically the same, but the focus can shift slightly.

Does word here have anything to do with the English noun word?

No. This is just a coincidence in spelling.

Afrikaans word is a verb. It can mean become, and in passive constructions it functions as an auxiliary.

So in this sentence, word is not the English noun word at all. It is part of the passive verb phrase:

kan ... gesit word = can be assembled.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
“What's the best way to learn Afrikaans grammar?”
Afrikaans grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Afrikaans

Master Afrikaans — from Die meubels kan môre aanmekaar gesit word to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions