Question 1

What does hou mean in ons hou die vergadering in, and how is it different from hou van?

Accepted Answer

In ons hou die vergadering in, hou means “hold” or “host” (the meeting). It’s part of the separable verb inhou (“to hold”). By contrast, hou van means “to like” — hou + van = like something.

Question 2

Why is in separated from hou rather than writing inhou as one word?

Accepted Answer

In Afrikaans main clauses, separable-verb particles move to the end. So you split inhou into hou (verb in second position) and in at the clause end:  
Ons (subject) | hou (verb) | die vergadering (object) | in (particle).

Question 3

Why do we use die before vergadering and klaslokaal?

Accepted Answer

Afrikaans uses die as the definite article (“the”). You need it just like English “the meeting” or “the classroom.”

Question 4

Why is klaslokaal written as one word?

Accepted Answer

Afrikaans typically forms compound nouns by combining words. klas + lokaal becomes klaslokaal.

Question 5

Why is the preposition in used with klaslokaal? Could it be something else?

Accepted Answer

Because you’re inside the classroom, you use in (“in the classroom”). If you were on top, you’d use op (“on the table”), or by for “by the library” (at/near).

Question 6

What does wanneer mean here, and can we use as or toe instead?

Accepted Answer

wanneer means “when” in a time clause (for repeated or future events).  
- as can also mean “when” for general or conditional statements (As dit reën,… “When it rains…”).  
- toe is “when” for a single past event (Toe die biblioteek te vol was,… “When the library was too full…”).  
In your sentence wanneer is best for habitual or future “when.”

Question 7

Why does the verb is come at the end in wanneer die biblioteek te vol is?

Accepted Answer

Clauses introduced by time conjunctions like wanneer use verb-final order: subject + complements + verb. So you get die biblioteek (subject) + te vol (complement) + is (verb).

Question 8

What does te vol mean, and how do you form those “too …” expressions?

Accepted Answer

te + adjective = “too …”  
– te vol = too full  
– te koud = too cold  
– te laat = too late

Question 9

In a main clause, would the word order change for “the library is too full”?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Main clauses use verb-second order (unless something else is fronted). So you say:  
Die biblioteek is te vol.

Ons hou die vergadering in die klaslokaal wanneer die biblioteek te vol is.

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Master Afrikaans — from Ons hou die vergadering in die klaslokaal wanneer die biblioteek te vol is to fluency