Die kind se hond is hier.

The child's dog is here.

Breakdown of Die kind se hond is hier.

• hier: here
• die hond: the dog
• wees: to be
• se: 's
• die kind: the child

Questions & Answers about Die kind se hond is hier.

Why is se used here instead of other possessive forms?

In Afrikaans, se is a possessive marker that often functions like the English 's. It indicates that die hond (the dog) belongs to die kind (the child). While English primarily uses 's or of (for example, the child's dog or the dog of the child), Afrikaans typically uses se for this purpose.

How do I pronounce se correctly in this context?

The se in die kind se hond usually sounds like suh in English. Focus on a short, unstressed vowel: suh. By keeping it unstressed, it naturally links kind to hond without calling attention to itself.

Why do we say is and not another verb like het after hier?

In Afrikaans, is is the form of the verb to be, which you use to describe a state of being or location. The sentence Die kind se hond is hier states where the dog currently is. The verb het (which means have) wouldn't make sense here, because we're not talking about possession anymore—we're describing location.

Is there a difference if I say Die hond van die kind is hier instead?

Die hond van die kind is hier is perfectly correct and means the same thing. It's a more formal or sometimes more explicit way of saying the child’s dog is here. However, Die kind se hond is hier is more common and sounds more natural in everyday speech.

How do I know whether to use hier or hierdie?

In Afrikaans, hier means here, referring to the location. Hierdie, on the other hand, translates more directly to this. So if you want to say the dog is here, use hier. If you want to say this dog, you’d say hierdie hond. They serve different grammatical functions: hier for location, hierdie for demonstrative description.