Breakdown of Hy vertel later dieselfde storie aan sy seun.
hy
he
sy
his
later
later
dieselfde
the same
aan
to
vertel
to tell
die storie
the story
die seun
the son
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Questions & Answers about Hy vertel later dieselfde storie aan sy seun.
What does Hy mean in this sentence?
Hy is the third-person singular pronoun in Afrikaans, equivalent to he in English.
Why is the verb vertel placed before the time adverb later?
Afrikaans follows a V2 (verb-second) word order in main clauses. The finite verb (vertel) must come second, so when you have a subject (Hy) first, the verb follows it, and then you can place the time adverb (later).
What exactly does dieselfde mean?
Dieselfde is a compound determiner meaning the same. It stays the same regardless of the noun’s gender or number. Here it modifies storie to mean the same story.
Why is there no article like die before dieselfde storie?
When you use dieselfde (“the same”), it functions like a determiner and replaces the need for an extra article. So you say dieselfde storie (the same story), not die dieselfde storie.
What is the function of aan in aan sy seun?
Aan is the preposition “to.” It marks the indirect object in Afrikaans. So aan sy seun means to his son.
Why is it sy seun and not something like syne seun?
Possessive pronouns in Afrikaans agree with the possessor, not the thing possessed. For his son, you use the unstressed possessive sy + noun: sy seun. Syne is a strong possessive that stands alone (e.g., Die boek is syne = The book is his).
Could you have said Hy vertel dieselfde storie later aan sy seun instead?
Yes, you can move the adverb later after storie: Hy vertel dieselfde storie later aan sy seun. Both orders are grammatically correct; placing later immediately after the verb is slightly more neutral and common.
Is storie the only word for “story” in Afrikaans?
No, verhaal is also common for “story” or “narrative.” Storie often leans more toward a tale or anecdote, while verhaal can also mean a report or account. Both would work here.