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Questions & Answers about Ons vee weer die sand af voordat ons die strand verlaat.
What does vee af mean, and how does it function in this sentence?
vee af is a separable verb meaning “to sweep off” or “to wipe off.” In a main clause the particle af detaches and moves to the end, after the object. Hence we say ons vee die sand af (“we sweep the sand off”), not ons afvee die sand.
Why is weer placed between vee and die sand af?
weer means “again,” and it’s acting as a frequentative adverb here. Placing it between the verb and object (“vee weer die sand af”) is very common and neutral. You could also say ons vee die sand weer af, but doing so slightly shifts the emphasis onto weer.
Why is ons repeated before verlaat in the subordinate clause?
Afrikaans requires explicit subjects in each clause. Even though it’s the same “we,” you must repeat ons in the clause introduced by voordat: voordat ons die strand verlaat.
Why is verlaat in second position after voordat, instead of at the end of the clause?
Unlike German or Dutch, Afrikaans subordinate clauses follow the same word order as main clauses (Subject–Verb–Object). So after a subordinating conjunction like voordat, you still put the finite verb in second position: voordat ons die strand verlaat.
Why is the simple present tense used here for a future action?
Afrikaans often uses the present tense to express near-future events, especially when a time word or clause indicates it (here voordat). Saying sal verlaat (“will leave”) isn’t wrong, but isn’t needed for a routine or imminent action.
Why do we use die sand and die strand instead of omitting the article?
Afrikaans uses the definite article die to refer to a specific noun (“the sand,” “the beach”). Omitting it (ons vee weer sand af) sounds like sand in general, not the actual sand you’ve been standing on.
Could we rearrange the adverb weer elsewhere, and would it change the meaning?
You have a few options:
- Ons vee weer die sand af. (neutral, focus on repeating the action)
- Ons vee die sand weer af. (slightly more emphasis on “again”)
- Ons vee die sand af weer. (rare, sounds awkward).
The first two are interchangeable in everyday speech; the last one is best avoided.