Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ek laat jou my nuwe boek lees.

In Afrikaans, laat can mean "to let" or "to allow," and it’s commonly used when someone causes or allows another person to do something. Using toekennen (to grant) or gee (to give) wouldn’t convey the idea of letting someone do an action; they usually mean something else (e.g., giving permission or physically handing over something).

Why does the sentence place jou right after laat?

Afrikaans word order often follows the structure subject → verb → object → rest of sentence. In this sentence, Ek is the subject, laat is the main verb, and jou is the object pronoun referring to the person who is allowed to read the book.

What is the function of my nuwe boek here?

My nuwe boek is the direct object of the activity being done. It indicates what is being read. So you have:
• Ek (I) → subject,
• laat (let) → verb that indicates allowing,
• jou (you) → person being allowed,
• my nuwe boek lees (to read my new book) → the action and its object.

Could the sentence be rearranged to something like Ek laat my nuwe boek jou lees?

No, that would sound incorrect in Afrikaans. The direct object (the book) should stay after jou, and the action lees should come at the end in this type of causative sentence. The normal structure here is Ek laat jou my nuwe boek lees or Ek laat jou lees my nuwe boek, but the second version is less natural.

Is there a difference in emphasis if I say Ek laat jou my nuwe boek lees versus Ek laat jou lees my nuwe boek?

Both convey the same idea, but Ek laat jou my nuwe boek lees is more common and direct. By placing my nuwe boek right before lees, it flows better and sounds more natural to native speakers. The other version can feel slightly stilted or focus a bit more on the action lees rather than the object my nuwe boek.

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