Die rooi klere is duurder as die blou skoene.

the

Breakdown of Die rooi klere is duurder as die blou skoene.

• wees: to be
• as: than
• rooi: red

Questions & Answers about Die rooi klere is duurder as die blou skoene.

Why is the definite article die used twice in this sentence? Can I omit the second one?

Afrikaans normally requires a definite article die before each separate noun phrase. Here you have two phrases – die rooi klere and die blou skoene – so you repeat die. In less formal speech or writing you can sometimes drop the second article (“Die rooi klere is duurder as blou skoene”), but including both is clearer and more standard.

Why doesn’t the adjective rooi take an -e ending when it’s preceded by die? Shouldn’t it be rooie?

Most adjectives in Afrikaans do not add -e after a definite article. Only certain adjectives ending in a consonant or those with vowel changes do so (e.g. hoog → hoë in die hoë berg). Adjectives ending in a vowel, like rooi or blou, remain unchanged.

Why are klere and skoene plural? What is the singular of klere?

Klere is a collective noun meaning “clothes” and exists only in the plural. There is no singular “a cloth”; if you want to refer to one piece of clothing you say ‘n klerestuk (“a piece of clothing”).
Skoene is the regular plural of skoen (“shoe”).

How is the comparative duurder formed from (“expensive”)?