Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Baie studente leer vir dieselfde eksamen, maar sy is steeds gelukkig. - Many students study for the same exam, but she is still happy.

Baie means "many" or "a lot of". It functions as a quantifier before the plural noun studente. You don’t need a separate article when you use baie.

Why is there no article like die before baie studente?

When using a quantifier such as baie, Afrikaans omits the definite article (die). It already marks a general, undefined group ("many students").

Does leer mean "to learn" or "to teach" here?

In this context leer means "to learn" or "to study". Although historically leer could also mean "to teach", modern Afrikaans uses onderrig for "to teach".

Why is vir used in leer vir dieselfde eksamen?

The preposition vir here means "for", as in "study for an exam". You always say leer vir 'n eksamen to express preparing for it.

What does dieselfde mean and why isn't there an article before it?

Dieselfde means "the same". It replaces the article + adjective structure; you never say die dieselfde. It directly modifies the noun: dieselfde eksamen = "the same exam".

Why is there a comma before maar?

In Afrikaans, you often put a comma before coordinating conjunctions like maar ("but") to separate two independent clauses. It’s optional but recommended for clarity.

Why doesn't the verb move to the end after maar?

Unlike subordinating conjunctions (e.g. omdat, sodat), coordinating conjunctions like maar do not affect word order. The verb stays in second position: maar sy is….

What does steeds mean in sy is steeds gelukkig?

Steeds means "still". It indicates that she remains happy despite the situation. You could also say nog steeds with the same meaning; steeds alone is slightly more formal.

Could sy ever mean something other than "she"?

Yes. Sy can also be the demonstrative pronoun "that". However, here it's the third‐person feminine subject pronoun "she". The context makes the meaning clear.