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Die kat is klein.

Die kat is klein.
The cat is small.
FromLesson 1inHardcore Afrikaans

Breakdown of Die kat is klein.

die kat
the cat
klein
small

Questions & Answers about Die kat is klein.

Why is die used here instead of something like ’n?
In Afrikaans, die is the definite article (similar to “the” in English), so it specifically refers to a known or particular cat. If you wanted to say “a cat,” you would use ’n instead (meaning “a” in English).
How is kat pronounced compared to English “cat”?
The word kat in Afrikaans typically has a shorter “a” sound than the English “cat.” It sounds a bit closer to the “u” in English “cut,” though not exactly the same.
What is the function of is in this sentence?
Is acts as the linking verb, just like “is” in English. It links the subject (die kat) to the descriptive word (klein).
Why is it klein and not kleine?
When the adjective follows the verb is (i.e., when it is used predicatively), it stays in its base form — klein. When an adjective directly precedes the noun (attributive use), sometimes an -e is added, for example: die klein kat. But in this sentence, because it comes after is, it remains klein.
Is word order important here?
Yes, Afrikaans generally follows Subject–Verb–Object order in simple statements. In this sentence, the subject is die kat, the verb is is, and the rest (here just the adjective klein) follows.
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