Questions & Answers about Ek eet twee appels.
Why is there no article before twee appels?
In Afrikaans, when you use a number before a noun, you do not use an indefinite article. Plural nouns also do not take the indefinite article 'n—that’s only for singular nouns (e.g. Ek eet 'n appel = I eat an apple). If you want the definite article die (“the”), you put it in front: die twee appels.
How do I form the plural of appel to get appels?
Afrikaans nouns form plurals mainly by adding -e or -s. Nouns ending in an unstressed syllable (like -el, -ing, -heid, etc.) or a vowel typically take -s. Since appel ends in the unstressed syllable -el, the plural is appels.
Why is the verb eet the same for ek, jy, hy, etc.?
Afrikaans has a very simple present tense. You use the bare verb stem (the infinitive minus om/te) for all persons. There is no subject-verb agreement suffix. So: Ek eet, Jy eet, Hy eet, Ons eet, etc.
What is the basic word order in Ek eet twee appels?
Afrikaans main clauses follow a V2 (verb-second) rule, where the finite verb occupies the second position. When the subject is first, it’s simply Subject-Verb-Object (SVO): [Ek] [eet] [twee appels].
How do you turn Ek eet twee appels into a question like Do you eat two apples?
For a yes/no question, invert the finite verb and subject. Put the verb first:
Eet jy twee appels?
This literally means Do you eat two apples. For Do I eat two apples, say Eet ek twee appels?
How do I negate Ek eet twee appels to say I don’t eat two apples?
Afrikaans uses double nie. Place the first nie after the verb (or verb phrase) and the second nie at the end of the clause:
Ek eet nie twee appels nie.
How do I say the two apples in Afrikaans?
Use the definite article die for both singular and plural. So die twee appels means the two apples.
How do I pronounce Ek eet twee appels?
Approximate in English: eck EET tway AH-puhls.
- Ek: “eck” (short e + k)
- eet: “EET” (long e)
- twee: “tway” (long e)
- appels: “AH-puhls” (stress on first syllable; final s is /s/)
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Afrikaans grammar?”
Afrikaans grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning AfrikaansMaster Afrikaans — from Ek eet twee appels to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions