Ek werk nie vandag nie.

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Breakdown of Ek werk nie vandag nie.

• werk: to work
• nie: not
• vandag: today

Questions & Answers about Ek werk nie vandag nie.

Why does the sentence have the word nie twice?

Afrikaans typically uses a double negative for negation. One nie comes directly after the verb (werk) and the second nie is placed at the end of the sentence. This structure is standard in Afrikaans grammar and doesn’t directly translate into English.

Is the double negative always used in Afrikaans?

Yes, double negatives are a general rule. In most cases where you negate a statement, you’ll need two nie forms—one after the verb and one at the end.

Is there any other way to place vandag in the sentence?

You could say Vandag werk ek nie nie in more colloquial use, but the most common and straightforward word order is Ek werk nie vandag nie.

What tense is werk here?

It’s in the simple present tense, indicating what is (not) happening right now.

Why is Ek required at the beginning of the sentence?

Afrikaans usually requires a subject at the start for a simple, direct statement. Ek clarifies that you are the person performing (or in this case, not performing) the action.