Die motor ry vinnig in die straat.

The car drives fast in the street.

Breakdown of Die motor ry vinnig in die straat.

• in: in
• vinnig: fast
• die motor: the car
• die straat: the street

Questions & Answers about Die motor ry vinnig in die straat.

What is die in this sentence, and how does it work as an article in Afrikaans?

Die is the definite article (the). In Afrikaans it’s used for all genders, singular and plural. There’s no separate form for “the” based on gender or number—die always = “the.”

How would you say “a car” instead of “the car”?

You use the indefinite article ’n (pronounced /ən/). So ’n motor = “a car.” Contrast: ’n = “a/an,” die = “the.”

What does ry mean, and why doesn’t it change for different subjects?

Ry means “to drive” or “to ride.” In the present tense Afrikaans verbs do not change forms for different persons—so ek ry, jy ry, hy/sy/dit ry, ons ry, etc.

Is vinnig an adjective or an adverb? Why doesn’t it get an -ly ending?

In Afrikaans many words serve as both adjectives and adverbs without any change. Vinnig can mean “fast” (as an adjective) or “quickly” (as an adverb). There is no -ly ending in Afrikaans adverbs.

Why is vinnig placed after ry instead of before it?