Ons hol die pot uit.

We hollow out the pot.

Breakdown of Ons hol die pot uit.

• ons: we
• die pot: the pot
• uithol: to hollow out

Questions & Answers about Ons hol die pot uit.

What does each word in Ons hol die pot uit do?

• Ons = we
• hol ... uit = hollow out
• die = the
• pot = pot

So the structure is:

subject + verb + object + particle

Afrikaans often splits certain verbs in a main clause, so uithol appears here as hol ... uit.

Why is uithol split into hol ... uit?

Because uithol is a separable verb.

In a normal main clause, Afrikaans puts the conjugated verb early in the sentence, and the separable part goes to the end:

• Dictionary form: uithol
• Main clause: Ons hol die pot uit

This is similar to Dutch and German separable verbs.

You will often see:

• Ek hol die pampoen uit.
• Hulle hol die boomstam uit.

But in forms like the infinitive, it is written together again:

• om die pot uit te hol

And in a subordinate clause, it is also typically together:

• Ek weet dat ons die pot uithol.

Does hol by itself also mean something else?