Hulle kan vandag se vleis kook of dit môre voorberei.

They can cook today's meat or prepare it tomorrow.

Breakdown of Hulle kan vandag se vleis kook of dit môre voorberei.

• hulle: they
• vandag: today
• die vleis: the meat
• kook: to cook
• môre: tomorrow
• dit: it
• kan: to be able
• se: 's
• voorberei: to prepare

Questions & Answers about Hulle kan vandag se vleis kook of dit môre voorberei.

Why do we say vandag se vleis instead of something like die vleis van vandag?

In Afrikaans, se is used to show possession or association, much like the English apostrophe-s. So vandag se vleis literally means today’s meat. While you could say die vleis van vandag and be understood, vandag se vleis is more natural and concise in everyday speech.

Why do we use kook here instead of another verb?

The verb kook simply means to cook something in water or other liquid over heat. It implies the meat is being cooked (boiled, simmered, etc.). It’s a straightforward verb for preparing a meat dish with a cooking process that usually involves heat and liquid. If you changed kook to something else like braai, it would then mean grilling or barbecuing the meat.

What is the function of kan in this sentence?

The word kan is a modal verb meaning can or may. It indicates possibility or ability. Here, it tells us that the action is not compulsory but an option—they can cook the meat today if they choose to, or they can do it tomorrow.

Why is the second action described as of dit môre voorberei?

The phrase of dit môre voorberei means or prepare it tomorrow. The of introduces an alternative action, and voorberei means to prepare (in a more general sense, which might involve marinating, seasoning, or simply getting it ready to cook later).

Is voorberei written correctly, or should it be voor berei?

Afrikaans often combines prefixes with verbs into one word, so voorberei is the correct single-word form meaning to prepare. Writing it as voor berei would be incorrect in standard Afrikaans.

Could we switch kook and voorberei around?

Technically, yes—you could say Hulle kan vandag se vleis voorberei of dit môre kook if you want to emphasize a different order of actions. But changing the order also shifts the nuance of the sentence. As written, the sentence focuses first on cooking today and only second on preparing tomorrow. Switching them gives the impression that preparing today is the primary option.