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Die huis is oud.

Die huis is oud.
The house is old.
FromLesson 8inHardcore Afrikaans

Breakdown of Die huis is oud.

wees
to be
die huis
the house
oud
old

Questions & Answers about Die huis is oud.

What does Die mean in the sentence Die huis is oud?
Die is the definite article in Afrikaans, equivalent to the in English. It is invariable: it never changes for gender, number, or case.
What part of speech is is in the sentence Die huis is oud?
Is is the present-tense form of the verb wees (to be). It functions as a linking verb (copula), joining the subject die huis to the adjective oud.
How do you say a house in Afrikaans?

Use the indefinite article 'n (an apostrophe-n). For example:
• 'n huis = a house
Pronounced roughly like un huis.

Why is oud not oue here?
Afrikaans adjectives take an -e ending only in attributive position with a definite noun (e.g. die oue huis). Here oud is predicative (it follows the verb is), so it remains in its base form.
How do you form the comparative and superlative of oud?

• Comparative (older): ouer
• Superlative (oldest): oudste

How do you pronounce Die huis is oud?

Approximate sounds in IPA and plain English:
• Die [diː] – like dee
• huis [hœys] – like hoys (rhymes with boys)
• is [ɪs] – like iss
• oud [ut] – like oot (close to English out without the w)

Are huis and house related?
Yes. Both derive from Proto-Germanic roots. English underwent the Great Vowel Shift (house [haʊs]), while Afrikaans preserved a different vowel sound in huis [hœys].
How do you say the house is not old in Afrikaans?

Use two nies for negation:
• Die huis is nie oud nie.

How do you ask Is the house old? in Afrikaans?

Invert the verb and subject:
• Is die huis oud?

How do you make the sentence plural: The houses are old?

• Plural of huis is huise
• Definite article die stays the same
• Adjective oud remains unchanged in predicative position
Result: Die huise is oud.

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