Breakdown of Hy druk nog ’n kopie, want die gids vra vir ’n kwitansie.
hy
he
want
because
’n
a
die gids
the guide
druk
to print
die kopie
the copy
nog ’n
another
vra vir
to ask for
die kwitansie
the receipt
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Questions & Answers about Hy druk nog ’n kopie, want die gids vra vir ’n kwitansie.
What does druk mean in this sentence?
Here it means to print (not “to press”). In the context of a printer or photocopier, druk ’n kopie is how you say print a copy.
Why is it nog ’n kopie instead of nog kopie?
Nog on its own can mean still, yet or more, but to express another copy you always follow nog with the indefinite article ’n. So nog ’n kopie = another copy or one more copy.
Why do we write the indefinite article as ’n with an apostrophe instead of just n?
’n is simply the shortened form of een (“one”). The apostrophe marks the missing ee. Functionally it’s the Afrikaans equivalent of the English a or an.
What is the function of want here, and why doesn’t the verb go to the end in the second clause?
Want is a coordinating conjunction meaning because. It links two independent clauses without changing their word order, so you keep the verb in second position: die gids vra vir…. If you replaced want with the subordinating conjunction omdat, you would have to move the verb to the end: omdat die gids vir ’n kwitansie vra.
Why is there a comma before want?
When want connects two full sentences, a comma before it is common (though not strictly mandatory). It simply helps separate and clarify the two clauses.
How do vra and vir work together here? Could you leave out vir?
The verb vra (“to ask”) takes its object with the preposition vir when you ask for something. You cannot say die gids vra ’n kwitansie—you need die gids vra vir ’n kwitansie (“the guide asks for a receipt”).
What does kwitansie mean?
Kwitansie means receipt, i.e. proof of payment. It’s a direct loan from Dutch.
What’s the difference between nog ’n kopie and ’n ander kopie?
Nog ’n kopie emphasizes an extra copy (“one more”), while ’n ander kopie means a different copy (not the same one). Use nog ’n for an additional item and ’n ander when you want a different item.