Ek dink ja, ons het genoeg tyd.

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Breakdown of Ek dink ja, ons het genoeg tyd.

• ons: we
• hê: to have
• dink: to think
• die tyd: the time
• ja: yes
• genoeg: enough

Questions & Answers about Ek dink ja, ons het genoeg tyd.

How come ja is used here right after dink?

In Afrikaans, ja simply means yes, so Ek dink ja can be interpreted as I think so or I believe yes. It adds a direct affirmation to your thought. Some people might also say Ek dink so (I think so) with a slightly different nuance, but Ek dink ja sounds more direct.

Why do we say het genoeg tyd instead of het genoeg tyd in a different order or tense?

In Afrikaans, the present tense construction ons het genoeg tyd (literally we have enough time) is straightforward and follows the usual subject-verb-object order. The verb het (to have) doesn't need an extra helping verb or change in this context. Afrikaans word order here is quite similar to English: subject (ons), verb (het), and then the object or complement (genoeg tyd).

Is ons always used for we, and does it ever change forms?

Ons is the basic pronoun for we in Afrikaans. Unlike English, Afrikaans pronouns don't have many forms. Ons can also mean us depending on context (for example, Hy sien ons = He sees us). So ons serves both we and us, and you don’t change it like English we / us.

Could you say Ek glo ja or Ek dink wel too?

Yes! Ek glo ja would mean I believe yes, indicating a deeper belief rather than just thinking. Ek dink wel can mean I do think so, where wel emphasizes that you do indeed think so. Subtle differences in nuance exist, but they all convey a positive affirmation.

Why is it common to add ja in the sentence rather than just saying Ek dink?

Adding ja makes the statement clearer or more agreeable, showing you confirm or agree with a prior idea. Simply saying Ek dink is incomplete unless you add what you think. So by adding ja, you’re stating your thought and agreement in one short phrase.