Ek vra die onderwyser vir hulp.

I

Breakdown of Ek vra die onderwyser vir hulp.

• die: the
• vir: for
• vra: to ask

Questions & Answers about Ek vra die onderwyser vir hulp.

Why is the sentence Ek vra die onderwyser vir hulp and not something with is or besig om te?

In Afrikaans, the simple present tense often covers both English I ask and I am asking.

So Ek vra die onderwyser vir hulp can mean:

• I ask the teacher for help
• I am asking the teacher for help

If you want to be extra explicit about an ongoing action, Afrikaans can use besig om te, but that is not necessary here:

• Ek is besig om die onderwyser vir hulp te vra = I am busy asking the teacher for help

The short version with vra is the normal, natural choice in many situations.

What does ek mean?

Ek means I.

It is the subject of the sentence, the person doing the action.

Examples:

• Ek leer Afrikaans = I learn / am learning Afrikaans
• Ek vra die onderwyser vir hulp = I ask / am asking the teacher for help

Why is the verb vra and not a different form for I?