Breakdown of Ek bereik die einde van die pad.
ek
I
die
the
die pad
the road
van
of
die einde
the end
bereik
to reach
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Questions & Answers about Ek bereik die einde van die pad.
What does the verb bereik mean in this context?
In Afrikaans, bereik means to reach or to achieve. Here you use it just like in English: Ek bereik die einde – I reach the end. It’s a transitive verb, so it requires a direct object: die einde van die pad.
Why is die used twice in the sentence?
Afrikaans requires a definite article for each definite noun phrase. You have die einde (the end) and die pad (the road). That’s why die appears before both nouns.
What role does the preposition van play here?
van means of in this phrase. einde van die pad literally translates to end of the road. It’s the standard way to link two nouns in a genitive (possessive) relationship.
Why is the word order Ek bereik die einde... and not Ek die einde bereik...?
Standard Afrikaans main clauses follow Subject–Verb–Object (SVO) order. Here Ek is the subject, bereik is the verb, and die einde van die pad is the object.
Can I use a different verb like kom to express arriving at the end of the road?
Yes, but it works differently. You can say Ek kom by die einde van die pad aan, using the separable verb aankom (to arrive). Note the extra preposition by and that aan moves to the end of the sentence.
How would I put this sentence in the past tense?
- Perfect tense (common in speech):
Ek het die einde van die pad bereik – I have reached (or simply I reached) the end of the road. - Simple past (more formal/written):
Ek bereikte die einde van die pad – I reached the end of the road.
Is it possible to omit die before einde or pad?
No. In Afrikaans, most concrete nouns require either an article (die, ’n) or another determiner. Ek bereik einde van pad would be ungrammatical.
How would you say “at the end of the road” as a location, not an action?
Use the preposition aan: aan die einde van die pad.
Example: Daar is ’n groot boom aan die einde van die pad – There is a big tree at the end of the road.
Can I express an indefinite “end of a road” without the article?
You would use the indefinite article ’n: ’n einde van die pad, but this is very rare in actual Afrikaans. If you want an indefinite idea, you might rephrase or talk about ’n deel van die pad (“a part of the road”) instead.