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Questions & Answers about Die kamers is ook skoon.
Why does Afrikaans use is here instead of something that looks like “are”?
In Afrikaans, the verb is serves as both “is” and “are” in English. Afrikaans doesn’t change the form of the verb for plural subjects like English does. So whether it’s “Die kamer is skoon” for one room, or “Die kamers is skoon” for multiple rooms, the verb form remains the same.
Can is in Afrikaans ever change if the subject is plural?
No, in standard Afrikaans, the verb is is used consistently for both singular and plural subjects. There’s no separate verb form for plural nouns, unlike English which changes from “is” to “are.”
Why is the word ook (meaning “also”) placed after is?
In Afrikaans, ook often appears either directly after the verb or before the main concept it’s highlighting. Placing it right after is makes it clear that the statement “also” applies generally to the verb and the rest of the sentence. The placement is flexible, but “Die kamers is ook skoon” is a very natural and common word order.
Does skoon have any other meanings besides “clean”?
Yes. While skoon most commonly means “clean” in modern Afrikaans, it can also mean “pure” or “beautiful” in older or poetic contexts. However, in everyday language, “clean” is by far the most common sense.
How do I pronounce kamers and skoon?
• kamers: It sounds like KAH-mers (with the a similar to the “a” in “father,” and the r slightly trilled).
• skoon: It sounds like SKOON (the oo is pronounced like the “oo” in “food,” but a bit shorter).
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