Ek vra die bibliotekaris vir 'n boek oor speelgoed.

I ask the librarian for a book about toys.

Breakdown of Ek vra die bibliotekaris vir 'n boek oor speelgoed.

• ek: I
• die boek: the book
• vir: for
• vra: to ask
• ’n: a
• oor: about
• die bibliotekaris: the librarian
• die speelgoed: the toy

Questions & Answers about Ek vra die bibliotekaris vir 'n boek oor speelgoed.

What does vra mean and what is its infinitive?

vra is the present‐tense form of the verb vra (to ask). The dictionary form (infinitive) is also vra (sometimes you see om te vra, but when you simply say “I ask” you just use vra).

Why is there an apostrophe in 'n boek and how do you pronounce it?

The indefinite article in Afrikaans is ’n, a contraction of een (one). It’s always written with an apostrophe plus lowercase n. You pronounce it like a quick schwa [ə], similar to the “a” in English “about.”

Why do we use vir before 'n boek, and could you swap the word order?

In Afrikaans you vra iemand vir iets (ask someone for something). The person you ask is placed directly after the verb, and the thing you want is introduced by vir.
You can also swap the two objects, as long as vir marks the thing:
• Ek vra die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek…
• Ek vra vir die bibliotekaris ’n boek…
Both mean “I ask the librarian for a book…”

What role does oor play in oor speelgoed, and why not van?

oor is the preposition meaning about (as in a topic). So ’n boek oor speelgoed means “a book about toys.”
van would mean “of/from,” which doesn’t convey the topic sense.

Why isn’t there an article before speelgoed in oor speelgoed?

When talking about a topic in general (toys, in this case), Afrikaans treats it like a mass or collective noun. You don’t need die or ’n before speelgoed in oor speelgoed.

How would you say “I asked the librarian for a book about toys” in past tense?

Use het + past participle at the end. The sentence becomes:
Ek het die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek oor speelgoed gevra.

How can you turn the statement into a question or an imperative?

To make a yes/no question, invert verb and subject or simply use rising intonation:
• Vra ek die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek oor speelgoed? (Am I asking…)
• Vra die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek oor speelgoed? (Will/Would you ask…)

For an imperative (command), drop Ek:
• Vra die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek oor speelgoed. (Ask the librarian…)

Where can you place please (asseblief) to sound polite?

You can insert asseblief in several places:
• At the start: Asseblief, ek vra die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek oor speelgoed.
• After the verb: Ek vra asseblief die bibliotekaris vir ’n boek oor speelgoed.
• Before vir: Ek vra die bibliotekaris asseblief vir ’n boek oor speelgoed.
All are acceptable; the most common spot is right after the verb.