Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ek is sterk.

In Afrikaans the present-tense verb is covers I, you, he, she, we, you (plural) and they. There’s no separate “am” or “are” like in English—is works for every subject.

Why is Ek capitalized here? What if it appears in the middle of a sentence?

Afrikaans capitalizes only the first word of a sentence and proper nouns. Since Ek begins this sentence, it gets a capital E. If ek appears later on, it stays lowercase.

What is the normal word order in Afrikaans for statements like Ek is sterk?

Main clauses in Afrikaans follow Subject–Verb–Object/Adjective (SVO) order. That’s why you say Ek (subject) first, then is (verb), then sterk (adjective).

How do you make the sentence negative?

You use the two-part negation nie … nie around the adjective or verb. For “I am not strong” you say Ek is nie sterk nie.

How can I turn Ek is sterk into a question like “Am I strong?”

Invert the verb and subject: Is ek sterk? That’s the standard written question. In speech you could also keep the order and use a rising intonation.

How do I say “I am very strong” in Afrikaans?

Add an intensifier before the adjective. For example:
• Ek is baie sterk. (I am very strong.)
• Ek is heel sterk. (I am quite strong.)

Can sterk describe things other than a person’s physical strength?

Yes. Sterk can describe mental strength, the intensity of a flavour or smell (e.g. sterk koffie, “strong coffee”), or even a convincing argument (’n sterk argument).

How do I form the comparative and superlative of sterk?

Comparative: sterker (“stronger”), as in Hy is sterker as ek (“He is stronger than me”).
Superlative: sterkste with the definite article die, as in Hy is die sterkste (“He is the strongest”).