Die leerling se oplettendheid maak die klas stil.

The student's attentiveness makes the class quiet.

Breakdown of Die leerling se oplettendheid maak die klas stil.

• die: the
• maak: to make
• se: ’s
• stil: quiet
• die klas: the class
• die oplettendheid: the attentiveness
• die leerling: the student

Questions & Answers about Die leerling se oplettendheid maak die klas stil.

What does se indicate in die leerling se oplettendheid?

se is the genitive marker in Afrikaans (equivalent to English ’s or of), linking the possessor (die leerling) to the possessed noun (oplettendheid).

Why isn’t there an apostrophe before se like in English student’s?

Unlike English, Afrikaans uses the separate word se for the possessive. There is no apostrophe; you simply insert se between the possessor and the possessed noun.

How is the noun oplettendheid formed, and what nuance does it carry?

oplettendheid comes from the adjective oplettend (attentive) plus the abstract-noun suffix -heid, so it literally means “attentiveness.” It emphasizes a quality or state, more abstract than just aandag (“attention”).

Could I use aandag instead of oplettendheid?

Yes, but there’s a slight nuance difference:

• aandag = “attention” (the act or focus)
• oplettendheid = “attentiveness” (the quality of being attentive)
  You could say die leerling se aandag maak die klas stil, but oplettendheid feels more formal and abstract.

I notice two instances of die. Why are they both necessary?

Each die serves a different noun:

1. die leerling = “the student”
2. die klas = “the class”
   Afrikaans uses die as the definite article before every singular/plural noun unless possession or another determiner replaces it.

Why is the adjective stil not inflected (not stille) here?

stil here functions predicatively (as an object complement after maak). Predicative adjectives in Afrikaans stay in their base form:

• Predicative: Maak die klas stil.
• Attributive: die stille klas (needs -e).

How does the verb maak structure the sentence? Is this a special construction?

This is a causative construction:
subject (die leerling se oplettendheid) + verb (maak) + object (die klas) + adjective/complement (stil).
It means “The student’s attentiveness causes/makes the class quiet.”

Can I reorder the sentence to Die leerling maak die klas stil se oplettendheid?

No, that wouldn’t work. In Afrikaans, possession (se) stays attached to the possessor noun, and the causative structure must be: subject + maak + object + adjective.
You could rephrase with a prepositional phrase: Die leerling maak die klas met sy oplettendheid stil, but not by moving se oplettendheid to the end.

What is the typical word order in an Afrikaans main clause, and does this sentence follow that rule?

Afrikaans follows a V2 (verb-second) rule in main clauses:

1. First position: subject or topical element (here die leerling se oplettendheid)
2. Second position: finite verb (maak)
3. Remainder: object & complements (die klas stil)
   This sentence perfectly demonstrates the S-V-Oc order.

How do I pronounce oplettendheid?

You can approximate it as OP-luh-tunt-hate, phonetically around /ˈɔp.lə.tən.tʰɛit/, with the stress on the first syllable and a clear /t/ sound.