Die probleem met die slot was klein; daarom het sy die deur weer oopgesluit.

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Breakdown of Die probleem met die slot was klein; daarom het sy die deur weer oopgesluit.

• sy: she
• die: the
• hê: to have

Questions & Answers about Die probleem met die slot was klein; daarom het sy die deur weer oopgesluit.

Why is die used twice?

Die is the Afrikaans definite article, meaning the. Afrikaans uses die for all nouns, regardless of gender, and also for plural nouns.

So here:

• die probleem = the problem
• die deur = the door

Unlike languages such as German or Dutch, you do not have to learn different definite articles for different genders.

What does slot mean here?

In this sentence, slot means lock.

So:

• die probleem met die slot = the problem with the lock

That is the normal meaning here because the second clause talks about unlocking the door.

Why does klein describe a problem? Doesn’t it literally mean small?

Yes, klein literally means small, but like English small, it can also mean minor or slight.

So Die probleem ... was klein means the problem was not serious or significant.

Also, after was, the adjective stays in its basic form:

• Die probleem was klein.