ELONIO
Log inSign up

Hy sit nou by die venster.

Hy sit nou by die venster.
He sits by the window now.
FromLesson 8inHardcore Afrikaans

Breakdown of Hy sit nou by die venster.

hy
he
nou
now
sit
to sit
die venster
the window
by
by

Questions & Answers about Hy sit nou by die venster.

Why doesn’t this sentence use a form like “is sitting” to show the continuous aspect, as in English?
Afrikaans does not have a separate continuous tense. The simple present (here sit) covers both the English simple present and present progressive. So Hy sit nou … can mean “He sits now” or “He is sitting now.”
Why is the verb sit the same for he, I, you, etc.?
Afrikaans verbs in the present tense do not change form according to person or number. You always use the base form (the infinitive stem without – to) for any subject.
Where and why is the adverb nou placed after sit?

Afrikaans follows a basic V2 (verb-second) word order. Time adverbs like nou typically come immediately after the finite verb. The pattern here is:

  1. Subject (Hy)
  2. Finite verb (sit)
  3. Time adverb (nou)
  4. Place phrase (by die venster)
Can I move nou to the front of the sentence?

Yes. If you front nou for emphasis, you still keep the verb in second position:
Nou sit hy by die venster.

Why is the location given as by die venster instead of in die venster or op die venster?

In Afrikaans by means “at” or “next to.”

  • in die venster would suggest “inside the window”
  • op die venster would mean “on the window”
    So by die venster correctly means “at/next to the window.”
Why does the sentence use the definite article die? Does it change with gender or number?
Afrikaans has a single definite article die for all nouns, regardless of gender or number. You use die for “the” in every case, singular or plural.
Could you start with the place phrase for emphasis, e.g. “By die venster …”?

Yes. You can front by die venster, but the verb must remain second:
By die venster sit hy nou.

Is it okay to leave out nou?

Absolutely. Without nou (“now”) the sentence still makes sense:
Hy sit by die venster. (He is sitting by the window.)

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
“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 Afrikaans

Master Afrikaans — from Hy sit nou by die venster to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓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
Start learning Afrikaans→