Breakdown of Die motor ry vinnig in die straat.
in
in
vinnig
fast
die motor
the car
die straat
the street
ry
to drive
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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?
The typical word order in a main clause is Subject–Verb–(Adverb)–Object/Place. Here Die motor (subject), ry (verb), vinnig (adverb), then in die straat (place).
What does in die straat mean, and can you use other prepositions with straat?
In die straat = “in the street.” If you wanted “on the street,” you’d say op die straat. The preposition changes the relationship: in = inside/in, op = on.
How do you form the plural of straat, and does the article change?
The plural of straat is strate. The definite article die remains the same: die straat (the street), die strate (the streets).
Can you omit die before straat like English sometimes omits “the”?
No. If you want to say “the street,” you need die straat. If you omit the article, it becomes ungrammatical or changes meaning (you might need ’n straat for “a street”).