ELONIO
Log inSign up

Ek is sterk.

Ek is sterk.
I am strong.
FromLesson 10inHardcore Afrikaans

Breakdown of Ek is sterk.

ek
I
wees
to be
sterk
strong

Questions & Answers about Ek is sterk.

Why does Afrikaans use is for all forms of “to be” in the present tense?
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”).

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
“What's the best way to learn Afrikaans grammar?”
Afrikaans grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Afrikaans

Master Afrikaans — from Ek is sterk to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Afrikaans→