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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:
- Subject (Hy)
- Finite verb (sit)
- Time adverb (nou)
- 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.)