Breakdown of Ek sit by die venster, waar die lug koel is.
ek
I
wees
to be
sit
to sit
die venster
the window
die lug
the air
koel
cool
by
by
waar
where
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Questions & Answers about Ek sit by die venster, waar die lug koel is.
What does sit by mean, and how is by used here?
In this sentence, by means “at” or “next to.” So sit by = to sit next to something. Ek sit by die venster literally means “I sit next to the window.” It does not mean “on the windowsill”—for that you would say sit op die vensterbank.
Why is there a comma before waar?
The comma marks the beginning of a relative (subordinate) clause introduced by waar. It separates the main clause (Ek sit by die venster) from the extra information in the subordinate clause (waar die lug koel is). In Afrikaans commas before relative clauses are optional, but they’re often used to signal non-restrictive details.
Why does the verb is appear at the end in waar die lug koel is?
Because waar introduces a subordinate clause (a relative clause), and in Afrikaans subordinate clauses the verb moves to the final position. In main clauses the verb sits in the second slot, but as soon as you start with a subordinator like waar, you push the verb to the end.
How do I know to use waar and not wat here?
Use waar when you’re referring to a place (“where”). Wat is a relative pronoun for things or ideas (“which” or “that”). Since this clause describes the place where the air is cool, waar is the correct choice.
Why is koel placed before is in the subordinate clause?
In subordinate clauses the typical word order is Subject–Predicate Adjective–Verb. So you get die lug (subject) + koel (predicate adjective) + is (verb). In a main clause you’d say die lug is koel, but the subordinate structure pushes is to the end.
Do I need the definite article die before lug? Could I use an indefinite article?
Die lug means “the air.” You use die because you’re talking about the specific air by the window. Afrikaans does have an indefinite article ’n (“a/an”), but saying ’n lug would mean “an air,” which isn’t idiomatic here.
How do I pronounce Ek, venster, and lug?
Ek = /ɛk/ (like the ‘e’ in “bet” + a hard ‘k’)
Venster = /ˈfɛn.stər/ (the ‘v’ is like ‘f’; both ‘e’s as in “bet”)
Lug = /lœx/ or /lɵx/ (the ‘u’ is similar to the vowel in British “book,” followed by a guttural ‘g’ as in Scottish “loch”)