Breakdown of Ek skryf my plan neer in my nuwe boek.
ek
I
my
my
in
in
nuwe
new
die boek
the book
die plan
the plan
skryf neer
to write down
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Questions & Answers about Ek skryf my plan neer in my nuwe boek.
What is the difference between skryf neer and skryf?
Skryf neer is a separable verb (from neerskryf) meaning “to write down” or “to record.” It carries the nuance of making a note or preserving something in writing. By contrast, skryf alone simply means “to write” in a more general sense. In English it’s like the difference between “note down” and “write.”
Why is neer at the end of the sentence instead of right after skryf?
In Afrikaans, separable verbs split the prefix (particle) from the main verb in finite clauses. The main verb (skryf) stays in the usual verb position (second in main clauses), and the particle (neer) moves to the very end of the clause.
Why are there two mys in the sentence (my plan and my nuwe boek)?
Each my is a possessive pronoun referring to a different noun. One shows ownership of plan, the other of nuwe boek. In Afrikaans you repeat the possessive for each noun phrase rather than using it just once for both.
Could I omit neer and say Ek skryf my plan in my nuwe boek?
Yes, that’s grammatically correct, but you lose the nuance of writing down or recording your plan. Without neer, it simply means you are writing something (your plan) in your book, not necessarily making a permanent note of it.
Why is there no article like die or ’n before nuwe boek?
When you use a possessive pronoun (my), you don’t combine it with an article. My nuwe boek already tells you whose book and whether it’s definite. Adding die or ’n would be redundant.
How does word order work here? Could I say Ek skryf in my nuwe boek my plan neer?
The typical order in an Afrikaans main clause is Subject – Verb – Object – Adverbials – Particle. So you place the direct object (my plan) right after the verb (skryf), then any adverbial phrase (in my nuwe boek), and finally the separable particle (neer). Swapping them can make the sentence sound awkward or overly emphatic.
Why is plan singular and not plural (planne)?
The learner’s intended meaning is “my plan,” a single plan. If you had more than one plan, you would indeed say my planne (my plans). Afrikaans marks plurals with -e, -s or other patterns depending on the noun. Here plan becomes planne in plural.