Soms lees ek ’n lang boek.

Sometimes I read a long book.

Breakdown of Soms lees ek ’n lang boek.

• ek: I
• lees: to read
• die boek: the book
• ’n: a

Questions & Answers about Soms lees ek ’n lang boek.

What does Soms mean?

Soms is an adverb meaning sometimes, indicating that the action happens on occasion rather than all the time.

What is ’n, and why is there an apostrophe?

’n is the indefinite article (English a or an). The apostrophe marks the contraction of the old Dutch/Afrikaans word een (“one”). In modern Afrikaans it’s always written as ’n.

Why does lees come before ek in Soms lees ek instead of Soms ek lees?

Afrikaans main clauses follow a verb-second (V2) rule. When you start with an adverbial element like Soms, the finite verb (lees) must occupy the second slot, so the subject (ek) follows the verb.

Is lees the simple present or the continuous (I am reading)?

Afrikaans does not distinguish between simple present and present continuous. Lees covers both “I read” and “I am reading,” depending on context.

Why doesn’t the adjective lang change to something like lange before boek?