Ek begin ’n soektog op die internet wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie.

I start a search on the internet when I cannot find a file.

Breakdown of Ek begin ’n soektog op die internet wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie.

• ek: I
• die: the
• nie: not
• kan: can
• ’n: a
• wanneer: when
• vind: to find
• op: on
• die lêer: the file
• begin: to start
• die soektog: the search
• die internet: the internet

Questions & Answers about Ek begin ’n soektog op die internet wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie.

Why does the sentence use two nies in the clause wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie?

Afrikaans forms negation by bracketing the verb (or verb group) with nie. The first nie appears before the verb group, and the second nie goes at the end of that clause. Even in subordinate clauses introduced by words like wanneer, you still place nie at the very end. So:

• Ek sien nie die hond nie. (“I don’t see the dog.”)
• …wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie. (“…when I can’t find a file.”)

Why is wanneer used here and not as? Aren’t they both “if/when”?

In Afrikaans:

• wanneer means “when” (referring to time).
• as means “if” (referring to a condition).

Since the sentence expresses “whenever/when I cannot find a file” (a time clause), you use wanneer. If you wanted “if I can’t find a file” (a conditional), you would say as ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie.

Why do the verbs kan and vind appear at the very end of the subordinate clause?

Afrikaans subordinate clause word order pushes the entire verb phrase to the clause’s end. Within that phrase, modal verbs like kan stay in front of the main verb vind. So you get:
…[wanneer] SUBJECT [ek] + object [’n lêer] + verb group [kan vind] + final nie.

In main clauses, the finite verb is second:
Ek kan nie ’n lêer vind nie.
But in subordinate clauses you move it to the end.

Why is the indefinite article written as ’n with an apostrophe?

The indefinite article in Afrikaans comes from the old Dutch word een (one). Over time, the e was dropped and an apostrophe (’) marks the missing letter. So:

• ’n = “one/a/an.”
  You never change it for gender or number.

Why is the preposition op used with die internet? In English we say “on the Internet.”

Afrikaans uses op (on) for the Internet just like English does. You could think of “the Internet” as a surface or space you place your search on. Using other prepositions like in die internet would sound odd. So always:

• op die internet = “on the Internet.”

What does soektog literally mean? Is it just “search”?

Soektog is a compound noun: soek (to search) + tog (quest, expedition). Think of soektog as a systematic or extended search—an expedition to find something. In English we might say “search operation” or simply “search,” especially an online search.

Can I start the sentence with the subordinate clause? For example, Wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie, begin ek ’n soektog op die internet.

Yes. Afrikaans allows you to lead with a time or condition clause, but remember to keep the main clause word order (verb is second):

• Wanneer ek nie ’n lêer kan vind nie, begin ek … (correct)
• The comma isn’t strictly required in Afrikaans but helps readability.

Why is the verb begin followed directly by ’n soektog and an infinitive, instead of a construction like “I am starting TO search”?

Afrikaans does not use a separate infinitive marker like English to. The verb begin can be followed by another verb in the bare infinitive:

• Ek begin soek. (“I begin to search.”)
  When you add an object, you say begin ’n soektog (begin a search) or specify location: begin ’n soektog op die internet.

Does the present tense begin cover both simple present and continuous actions?

Yes. Afrikaans generally uses one present-tense form for both ongoing and habitual actions. Ek begin ’n soektog can mean “I start a search” right now, or “I habitually start a search” whenever I can’t find a file. Context tells you which meaning is intended.