Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Die deur kraak wanneer ek dit oopmaak.

In Afrikaans the present‐tense verb never changes for person or number. You simply use kraak whether the subject is ek, jy, hy, ons or hulle.

Why is the verb phrase oopmaak all the way at the end of the clause?

Because it’s a subordinate (dependent) clause introduced by wanneer. In Afrikaans subordinate clauses, the entire verbal complex moves to the very end. So wanneer ek dit oopmaak places oopmaak last.

Why do we write oopmaak as one word here, but in main clauses I’ve seen maak oop split?

Oopmaak is a separable verb (prefix oop + verb maak).

In a main clause the prefix detaches and goes to the end: Ek maak die deur oop.
In subordinate clauses (or with negation) the two parts join: wanneer ek dit oopmaak or ek maak dit nie oop nie.

Why use wanneer instead of as for “when” here?

In Afrikaans wanneer introduces a time clause (“whenever/when I open it”), expressing that the door always creaks at that moment. As is used for conditions (“if I open it”). Since this is about something that actually happens every time, wanneer is correct.

What word‐order rule puts die deur before kraak in the main clause?

Afrikaans uses V2 (verb‐second) word order in main clauses: the finite verb always sits in the second position. So you have Subject (die deur) – Verb (kraak) – everything else (wanneer…).

English has a continuous tense (“the door is creaking”). How do I express that in Afrikaans?

Afrikaans does not have a continuous tense. You use the simple present for both habitual and ongoing actions.

Die deur kraak can mean “the door creaks” or “the door is creaking.”
If you want to stress it’s happening right now, add nou: Die deur kraak nou.

Why does the object pronoun dit come before oopmaak in the subordinate clause?

In subordinate clauses the entire verb complex goes to the end. Everything else—subjects and objects—must appear before it. So you get wanneer + ek (subject) + dit (object) + oopmaak (verbal complex).