Ek moet eers water kry.

I

Breakdown of Ek moet eers water kry.

• die water: the water
• moet: must
• kry: to get
• eers: first

Questions & Answers about Ek moet eers water kry.

Why do we use moet in this sentence?

Moet translates to "must" or "have to" in English. It indicates necessity or obligation. In Ek moet eers water kry, it shows that you have an obligation or pressing need to get water first.

What does eers mean here?

Eers is often used to mean "first" or "first of all," emphasizing that you must get water before doing anything else. It's slightly more colloquial than other ways of saying "first" but is very common in everyday Afrikaans.

How does the word order work for this sentence?

In Afrikaans, the standard sentence structure is subject + verb + object + any additional phrases. Here:
• Subject: Ek (I)
• Verb: moet (must)
• Adverb: eers (first)
• Object: water (water)
• Final verb: kry (get)

It's common to see two verbs in a row at the end in certain constructions, like "water kry," especially when using a modal verb like moet.

Why do we say kry instead of something like neem?

In Afrikaans, kry means "to get" or "to obtain," suggesting you’re seeking or receiving water. If you use neem ("to take"), it might have a more direct "picking up" or "taking possession" sense. In this sentence, kry more naturally conveys the idea that you need to go and find or obtain water.

Can I translate Ek moet eers water kry directly word-for-word into English?

A word-for-word translation would be I must first water get, which doesn't sound natural in English. The closest natural translation is I must get water first or I have to get water first.