Jy skryf jou werk klaar.

You finish writing your work.

Breakdown of Jy skryf jou werk klaar.

• jy: you
• skryf klaar: to finish writing
• jou: your
• die werk: the work

Questions & Answers about Jy skryf jou werk klaar.

Why is Jy used at the beginning of the sentence instead of Jou?

Jy is the subject pronoun meaning “you” in Afrikaans. Jou is the possessive pronoun for “your.” So, when you start a sentence and need the subject to perform the action, you use Jy.

Why do we say Jy skryf jou werk klaar rather than Jy skryf klaar jou werk?

Afrikaans generally follows the structure Subject + Verb + Object + extra elements. The word klaar in this sentence functions like a verbal particle, coming after the object (jou werk) to indicate the action is being completed or finished.

How does klaar function in this context?

In Jy skryf jou werk klaar, klaar works with skryf to show you are completing your writing. It adds the sense of finishing, making it stronger than just saying Jy skryf jou werk (“You write your work”).

Is the use of jou common for both singular and plural possession?

Jou is specifically singular possession. If you address more than one person, you’d generally use julle (for subject) or julle (as the possessive adjective, e.g., julle werk for “your (plural) work”).

Can I replace skryf with a different verb while keeping the same structure?

Yes! For example, Jy doen jou werk klaar means “You finish your work,” and follows the same pattern. The verb skryf (to write) can be substituted with many other verbs as long as the sentence structure remains consistent.