Breakdown of Die kind loop veilig in die tuin.
in
in
loop
to walk
die kind
the child
die tuin
the garden
veilig
safely
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Questions & Answers about Die kind loop veilig in die tuin.
What does die mean in this sentence?
die is the definite article “the.” In Afrikaans there’s no gender or case on articles, and die is used for singular and plural nouns alike.
Why is die used twice?
Each noun phrase gets its own article. The first die belongs to kind (“child”), the second to tuin (“garden”).
Does the verb loop change form for different subjects?
No. In the present tense Afrikaans verbs do not conjugate for person or number: ek loop, jy loop, hy loop, ons loop, julle loop, hulle loop.
How would I turn this into a question?
Invert the subject and verb:
Loop die kind veilig in die tuin?
That literally reads “Walks the child safely in the garden?”
How do I make this sentence negative?
Afrikaans uses double negation with nie…nie around the negated part:
Die kind loop nie veilig in die tuin nie.
Is veilig an adverb or adjective, and why isn’t there an –ly ending?
Afrikaans uses the same form for many adjectives and adverbs. Here veilig (“safe”) functions as an adverb of manner (how the child walks), without any extra ending.
Where do adverbs of manner like veilig go in the sentence?
They usually follow the verb and come before any place or time phrases. So you get Subject – Verb – Adverb of manner – Place:
Die kind | loop | veilig | in die tuin.
Could I say in die tuin for “in the garden”? Is in always followed by die?
Yes, in takes a noun phrase like any preposition. If the noun is definite, you add die: in die tuin. For indefinite you’d use ‘n: in ‘n tuin (“in a garden”).
What’s the difference between loop and hardloop?
loop means “to walk,” while hardloop means “to run” (hard = “fast”).
How would I say “The children walk safely in the garden”?
Just make kind plural and keep the rest the same:
Die kinders loop veilig in die tuin.
How do I express the past tense of loop?
Use the auxiliary het plus the past participle geloop:
Die kind het veilig in die tuin geloop.