Breakdown of Ek hou die sleutel in my sak sodat ek dit nie vergeet nie.
ek
I
my
my
in
in
nie
not
dit
it
hou
to keep
die sak
the pocket
die sleutel
the key
sodat
so that
vergeet
to forget
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Questions & Answers about Ek hou die sleutel in my sak sodat ek dit nie vergeet nie.
What does hou mean in this sentence? It seems like “hold,” but the English translation is “keep.”
In Afrikaans, hou is the go-to verb for both “hold” and “keep.” Context tells you which sense: here, Ek hou die sleutel in my sak means “I keep the key in my pocket.” If you’re physically holding something at that moment, you’d also use hou. And be careful: hou van means “to like.”
Why is sak used here for “pocket”? Doesn’t that mean “bag”?
Afrikaans sak can mean both “bag/sack” and “pocket.” The context (storing a key on your person) makes it clear it’s a pocket. If you specifically meant a handbag or backpack, you’d say tas (e.g. handtas) or rugtas. There is no zak (with a Z) in standard Afrikaans.
Why use die sleutel (the key) and not ’n sleutel (a key)?
die is the definite article (“the”), ’n is the indefinite article (“a/an”). In this sentence, the speaker refers to one specific key (e.g. the front-door key), so die sleutel is used. If you said Ek hou ’n sleutel in my sak, you’d mean “I keep a key in my pocket,” any key, not one particular key.
How do I refer back to die sleutel? Why is it dit and not hy or sy?
Afrikaans assigns dit (“it”) to most inanimate objects and abstract ideas. Use hy (“he”/“it”) only for animals or nouns you treat as masculine, and sy (“she”/“it”) for feminine. But for a key (an object), dit is the default.
Why are there two nies in sodat ek dit nie vergeet nie? That seems unusual.
Afrikaans uses double negation by bracketing the verb with nie … nie. The first nie comes right before the verb (or verb phrase), and the second nie comes at the end of the clause. This structure applies in both main and subordinate clauses: the verb phrase is “negated” by wrapping it in nie … nie.
Why does vergeet (the verb “forget”) appear near the end, instead of right after the subject?
Because sodat introduces a subordinate clause, Afrikaans pushes the main verb (here vergeet) to the end of the clause. Everything else—subject, object, adverbs, negation markers—comes before it (with the final nie trailing as part of the negation bracket).
What’s the difference between using sodat and an infinitive structure with om … te for expressing purpose? Could I say Ek hou die sleutel in my sak om dit nie te vergeet nie?
Yes, you can. In Afrikaans both constructions express purpose:
- sodat
- finite clause: emphasizes result or consequence.
- om
- te
- infinitive (with nie … nie if negative): focuses on intention.
- te
Examples:
• Ek hou die sleutel in my sak, sodat ek dit nie vergeet nie. (so that I won’t forget it – more about the result)
• Ek hou die sleutel in my sak, om dit nie te vergeet nie. (in order not to forget it – more about the intention)
Both are grammatically correct; your choice depends on nuance or personal style.