Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ons vind die sneeu mooi, alhoewel dit waarskynlik koud sal wees. - We find the snow beautiful, although it will probably be cold.

vind is the present-tense form of the verb “to find.” In Afrikaans, when you express an opinion about something, you normally say vind + object + adjective.
• Literally: Ons vind die sneeu mooi = “We find the snow beautiful.”
• Idiomatically: “We think the snow is beautiful.”
There isn’t a separate verb for “to think” in this kind of opinion-clause.

How is the word order in Ons vind die sneeu mooi structured compared to English?

Afrikaans uses a V2 (verb-second) rule in main clauses:
1) Subject (Ons)
2) Finite verb (vind)
3) Object (die sneeu)
4) Complement (mooi)
English can mirror this (“We find the snow beautiful”), though you might also say “We think the snow is beautiful,” which has a different structure.

Why is mooi placed after the noun, and can it function as an adverb?

• Here mooi is an adjective meaning “beautiful,” “pretty,” or “nice.” When used with vind, the adjective follows the object.
• As an adverb (“nicely”), mooi can modify verbs in contexts like jy sing mooi (“you sing nicely”), but it doesn’t appear directly after vind in opinion-clauses.

What role does alhoewel play, and are there alternatives for “although”?

alhoewel is a subordinating conjunction meaning “although,” introducing a contrasting subordinate clause.
Alternatives:
• hoewel (often interchangeable)
• maar can link two main clauses: “Ons vind die sneeu mooi, maar dit sal koud wees.”

Why is the future tense expressed as sal wees, and why does wees come last?

Afrikaans forms the future with the auxiliary sal (“will”) + the infinitive of the main verb (wees, “to be”). In subordinate clauses (after alhoewel), the finite verb (sal) still precedes the infinitive, but both shift toward the end:
“alhoewel” (conj.) + subject + adverb + sal (auxiliary) + wees (infinitive).

What part of speech is waarskynlik, and why is it placed before sal?

waarskynlik is an adverb meaning “probably” or “likely.” In Afrikaans subordinate clauses, adverbs typically follow the subject and come before the verb, hence:
dit (subject) + waarskynlik (adverb) + sal (auxiliary) + wees (infinitive).

Why is dit used here—does it always mean “it”?

dit acts as a dummy or anticipatory subject in impersonal statements (like weather). Afrikaans requires a subject in every clause. Even if English sometimes drops “it,” Afrikaans keeps dit.

How do you pronounce sneeu, alhoewel, and waarskynlik?

• sneeu: [snɛu] or [snœy], “eeu” as a rounded diphthong (something like the vowel in English boy but more closed).
• alhoewel: [alˈhuəl], two syllables (al-hoo-el), with a clear “h.”
• waarskynlik: [ˈʋaːrskʏnlək], “w” like English v, “skyn” like “skuin,” and “lik” like “lick.”