Breakdown of Die hondjie slaap op ’n tafeltjie langs my bed.
Questions & Answers about Die hondjie slaap op ’n tafeltjie langs my bed.
Generally, you simply add -tjie to the noun:
• hond → hondjie
• tafel → tafeltjie
A few common adjustments:
• Nouns ending in -ing change to -etjie (e.g. kring → kringetjie).
• Watch vowel length—sometimes a vowel is doubled or kept short to preserve pronunciation (check a dictionary if in doubt).
Most learners will find that noun + -tjie works in almost every case.
die is the definite article “the.” It’s used before singular or plural nouns without changing form:
• die hond (the dog)
• die honde (the dogs)
op means “on” or “atop.” It indicates position on a surface:
• sit op ’n stoel (sit on a chair)
• boek op die tafel (book on the table)
langs means “beside” or “alongside.” It’s a preposition that directly governs its object without an article if the noun is already defined by a possessive:
• langs my bed (beside my bed)
If you need a definite article, you’d say langs die muur (beside the wall).
Afrikaans main clauses follow the SVO pattern with the finite verb in second position. Here:
- Subject: Die hondjie
- Verb: slaap
- Adverbial phrases: op ’n tafeltjie langs my bed