Breakdown of Jy werk vinniger as jy koffie drink.
jy
you
drink
to drink
werk
to work
as
than
die koffie
the coffee
vinniger
faster
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Questions & Answers about Jy werk vinniger as jy koffie drink.
How is the comparative vinniger formed from vinnig, and why isn’t it meer vinnig?
In Afrikaans most short adjectives form the comparative by adding -er. Since vinnig is monosyllabic you attach -er to get vinniger. You reserve meer + adjective for longer adjectives (usually three syllables or more) or loanwords, for example meer interessant, meer relevant.
What does as do here? Does it mean when or than?
In this sentence as is a subordinating conjunction meaning when (or if in conditional contexts), introducing a time clause. It does not function as than (which also uses as in direct comparisons, e.g. Hy is groter as sy broer).
Why is the verb drink at the end of the second clause, while werk comes second in the first clause?
The first clause is a main clause and follows V2 word order (subject in slot 1, verb in slot 2): jy werk. The second clause is subordinate because of as, and in subordinate clauses the finite verb moves to the end. Hence jy koffie drink (subject – object – verb).
Why use as for when here, and not wanneer?
In Afrikaans wanneer is used in direct or indirect questions (e.g. Wanneer kom jy?, Ek wonder wanneer hy kom). For adverbial time clauses (“when you do X, Y happens”) you use as for present/future situations and toe for past; so as jy koffie drink is the correct form.
Why is there no article before koffie? How would I say a coffee?
Here koffie is a mass noun, used in a general sense, so you leave out the article. To specify “a coffee” (a cup of coffee) you can say ’n koppie koffie or colloquially ’n koffie.
Do I have to repeat the subject jy in both clauses? Can I omit it like in English?
No. Afrikaans is non-pro-drop: each independent clause or subordinate clause must have its own explicit subject pronoun, so you repeat jy.
How do I ask Do you work faster when you drink coffee in Afrikaans as a yes/no question?
Invert the finite verb and the subject in the main clause, leaving the subordinate clause unchanged:
Werk jy vinniger as jy koffie drink?
Should I put a comma before the as-clause?
Commas before as-clauses are optional. In short sentences like this many writers omit the comma, but you can include one for clarity:
Jy werk vinniger, as jy koffie drink.