Because wanneer introduces a subordinate clause in Afrikaans. In subordinate clauses, the finite verb often moves to the end.
So:
Compare that with a main clause:
This verb-final pattern after words like wanneer is very common in Afrikaans.
Afrikaans usually uses verb-second word order in main clauses. When something else comes first—here, the whole clause Wanneer die aartappels gaar is—the finite verb comes before the subject in the main clause.
So the structure is:
That is why it is:
If the sentence started directly with the subject, then you would get:
Both are correct, but the word order changes.
Not always. Wanneer is a common translation of when, especially in more neutral or formal usage.
In everyday Afrikaans, as is also often used where English uses when:
This can sound very natural in speech.
So:
Learners should be aware that as is very common in real Afrikaans.
Because eet is being used as a bare infinitive after the modal verb kan.
After modal verbs like kan (can), Afrikaans usually uses the infinitive without te:
So kan ons eet is completely normal.
Kan is a modal verb meaning can or be able to.
In this sentence:
It expresses possibility or ability. In context, it means something like we can eat once the potatoes are ready.
A rough English-friendly guide would be:
A few notes:
If you want to sound natural, the hardest part is usually the Afrikaans g.