Die rooi klere is duurder as die blou skoene.

The red clothes are more expensive than the blue shoes.

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

• die: the
• wees: to be
• as: than
• rooi: red
• die klere: the clothes
• blou: blue
• die skoen: the shoe
• duur: expensive

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 duur (“expensive”)?

Afrikaans forms comparatives in two ways:

• For short (usually one-syllable) adjectives you add -er: duur
  • -er = duurder.
• For longer adjectives you use meer + adjective + as (see next question).

Why is as used for “than” instead of dan (Dutch) or than (English)?

In Afrikaans comparatives you always use as where English uses than and Dutch uses dan. The word dan still exists in Afrikaans but for time expressions (e.g. later dan, “later then”) and not for comparisons.

When do I use meer ... as instead of the -er ending?

Use meer + [adjective] + as for most adjectives of two or more syllables or where an -er ending sounds awkward.
Example:

• kort (short) → korter (shorter)
• indrukwekkend (impressive) → meer indrukwekkend as (more impressive than)

How would I form the superlative of duur (“the most expensive”)?

You add -ste to the adjective and keep the article die:
die duurste
(“the most expensive”)

What’s the difference between duurder as and so duur soos?

• duurder as = “more expensive than” (shows one is pricier).
• so duur soos = “as expensive as” (shows equality in price).
  In other words, duurder as expresses a difference; so ... soos expresses similarity.

What is the typical word order in an Afrikaans comparative sentence?

The pattern is:
Subject – Verb – Comparative adjective – as – Second noun phrase.
Example breakdown:
1) Subject: Die rooi klere
2) Verb: is
3) Comparative adjective: duurder
4) Conjunction: as
5) Noun phrase: die blou skoene

How do I pronounce rooi, blou, and duurder?

Approximate English equivalents:

• rooi – sounds like “roy” (diphthong /ɔi/)
• blou – sounds like “blow” (/ou/)
• duurder – sounds like “DUR-der,” where the first syllable rhymes with “door” but shorter, and the ‘r’ is lightly rolled if you can.