Ons huis is nuut.

to be

Breakdown of Ons huis is nuut.

• nuut: new
• die huis: the house
• ons: our

Questions & Answers about Ons huis is nuut.

Why is the word is used here? Can it be omitted or changed?

Is is the Afrikaans form of is/are and functions as the verb “to be.” You cannot usually omit it, as it is essential for linking the subject (Ons huis) to the description (nuut). There is no alternative form here; is is the standard linking verb.

What does Ons refer to exactly?

Ons translates to “ours” or “we/our” in English. In this context, it means “our,” indicating that the house belongs to us.

How do I know when to use nuut versus nuwe?

Use nuut when describing something after the verb “is,” for example, “Ons huis is nuut.” If you are placing the adjective before the noun, you would use nuwe, as in “Ons nuwe huis is groot.” Both mean “new,” but nuut typically appears after linking verbs, while nuwe modifies a noun directly.

Why is there no article like “’n” before “huis”?

Afrikaans does not always use the indefinite article the same way English does. In many cases, you can say Ons huis to mean “our house.” An article like “’n” (a/an) is not needed here because we already specify ownership (Ons).

Could Ons huis is nuut also mean “We have a new house”?

Not directly. Literally, it means Our house is new. However, in conversation, people might use it to imply that they have recently moved into or renovated a house, thus effectively conveying a similar idea.

Does the word order follow any specific pattern?

Yes. In Afrikaans, the typical word order is Subject (Ons huis) + Verb (is) + Complement (nuut). This is quite similar to English.