Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Die blomme wat ek koop, ruik lekker.

In Afrikaans, wat is the relative pronoun used for both people and things in defining relative clauses. Dat is typically used as a conjunction meaning that (e.g. I believe that you are right = Ek glo dat jy reg is). So, when you want to say the flowers that I buy, you use wat instead of dat.

Why is there a comma after koop in this sentence?

In Afrikaans, commas around a relative clause can be used for clarity or stylistic reasons, much like in English. While it’s often omitted, some writers include a comma to separate the clause (wat ek koop) from the main verb phrase (ruik lekker). It’s not strictly mandatory, but it helps the sentence flow more naturally.

Why do we say ruik lekker instead of ruik goed?

In everyday Afrikaans, lekker is a very common word that can mean nice, tasty, pleasant, or good. When describing how something smells, saying ruik lekker (literally smells nice) is more idiomatic than ruik goed (smells good). Both are technically correct, but ruik lekker is more natural in conversation.

Is koop in the present tense or does it also imply a future meaning?