Breakdown of Ons moet nie die goedkoopste keuse maak nie.
ons
we
die
the
nie
not
moet
must
die keuse
the choice
maak
to make
goedkoopste
cheapest
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Questions & Answers about Ons moet nie die goedkoopste keuse maak nie.
Why are there two nie in the sentence Ons moet nie die goedkoopste keuse maak nie?
Afrikaans uses a “double negation” for finite verb phrases. The first nie follows the conjugated/modal verb (moet) and the second nie appears at the very end of the clause. Both are required to form a complete negative.
How does the word order work in this negative construction?
The pattern is:
- Subject (Ons)
- Conjugated/modal verb (moet)
- First nie
- Object phrase + any non-finite verbs (die goedkoopste keuse maak)
- Second nie
So you get: Ons – moet – nie – die goedkoopste keuse maak – nie.
What does moet nie ... nie express here compared to moenie ... nie?
- Ons moet nie ... nie is the present tense with a modal verb meaning “we must not” or “we should not.”
- Moenie ... nie is the negative imperative (a command): “Don’t do that!”
Why is there a die before goedkoopste keuse?
Superlatives in Afrikaans normally take the definite article die, just like English “the.” Without die, it would sound awkward or ungrammatical.
How is the superlative goedkoopste formed from goedkoop?
Most adjectives form the superlative by adding –ste. Since goedkoop ends in a consonant sound, you simply tack on –ste to get goedkoopste (“cheapest”).
Could you use a different word than keuse for “choice”?
Yes. Keuse is the standard noun for “choice.” You might also hear opsie (“option”), but opsie is more informal and often used in technical or everyday contexts (“What’s my best option?”). Besluit means “decision,” which focuses on the act of deciding rather than the thing you choose.
Why do we use maak (“make”) a choice, instead of neem (“take”) a choice?
In Afrikaans the common collocation is ‘n keuse maak — literally “to make a choice,” mirroring English. Keuse neem is understood, but far less idiomatic. Afrikaans often matches English here, unlike Dutch, which uses kiezen for “choose.”
Can you drop one of the nie in casual speech?
In very informal speech you might occasionally hear the final nie omitted (e.g., Ons moet nie die goedkoopste keuse maak), but this is non-standard. For clear, correct Afrikaans you should keep both nie.