Breakdown of Die deelnemersnommer is op die spanhemp.
wees
to be
op
on
die deelnemersnommer
participant number
die spanhemp
team shirt
Questions & Answers about Die deelnemersnommer is op die spanhemp.
Why is die used twice in Die deelnemersnommer is op die spanhemp?
Because die is the Afrikaans definite article meaning the.
In this sentence:
- Die deelnemersnommer = the participant number
- die spanhemp = the team shirt
Afrikaans uses die for all genders and for both singular and plural nouns in most ordinary cases. Unlike languages such as German or Dutch, you do not have to change the article depending on gender.
So English the and Afrikaans die line up very neatly here.
Why is deelnemersnommer written as one long word?
Afrikaans, like Dutch and German, very often forms compound nouns by writing them as one word.
So:
- deelnemer = participant
- nommer = number
- deelnemersnommer = participant number / participant’s number
This is very normal in Afrikaans. English often writes similar ideas as two words, but Afrikaans usually prefers one compound word.
A learner should get used to this pattern, because you will see it everywhere:
- spanhemp = team shirt
- huisdeur = house door / front door
- skooltas = school bag
What is the doing in ?