Ons sit lank in die kamer.

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Breakdown of Ons sit lank in die kamer.

• die: the
• in: in
• die kamer: the room
• lank: long
• sit: to sit

Questions & Answers about Ons sit lank in die kamer.

Why is the verb sit used here instead of is?

In Afrikaans, using sit can emphasize the action or state of sitting for a duration, rather than just stating that you are in the room. Saying Ons sit lank in die kamer suggests that you’re seated for a long time, whereas Ons is lank in die kamer would simply mean you have been in the room for a long time, without the idea of being seated.

What does lank mean in this context?

Lank means for a long time here. It can sometimes translate more literally as long in other contexts, but when combined with a verb like sit, it emphasizes doing something for an extended period.

Why do we say in die kamer instead of in kamer?

Afrikaans generally uses a definite article when referring to a specific place or object. Because we’re talking about the room, we say in die kamer. Dropping the article would sound incomplete or incorrect in standard Afrikaans.

Could you say Ons sit al lank in die kamer?

Yes, adding al would mean we have been sitting in the room for a long time already. It emphasizes the duration up to now. Without al, the sentence simply focuses on a long period without necessarily highlighting that it’s been ongoing for a while.

Is there another way to say this sentence without using sit?

You might use Ons is lank in die kamer to say “We have been in the room for a long time,” if you don’t need to focus on the actual sitting action. However, that changes the nuance slightly, removing the emphasis on being seated.

What if I want to use a continuous tense structure like in English?

Afrikaans doesn’t have a -ing form the same way English does. Instead, context and word choice convey continuous actions. Using phrases like Ons is besig om lank in die kamer te sit (literally “We are busy sitting in the room for a long time”) can convey the idea of an ongoing action, but it’s more common to keep it simple with Ons sit lank in die kamer.