Sommige getuies wag buite.

Some witnesses wait outside.

Breakdown of Sommige getuies wag buite.

• buite: outside
• wag: to wait
• die getuie: witness
• sommige: some

Questions & Answers about Sommige getuies wag buite.

Why does sommige come first in the sentence?

Because sommige means some and it directly modifies the noun getuies (witnesses). Afrikaans, like English, often begins a simple statement with the subject:

Sommige getuies = some witnesses

So the structure is:

Sommige getuies + wag + buite
some witnesses + wait + outside

What exactly does sommige mean, and is it common?

Sommige means some or certain when talking about an unspecified part of a group.

Examples:

• Sommige mense verstaan dit nie. = Some people do not understand it.
• Sommige kinders speel buite. = Some children are playing outside.

It is perfectly correct and fairly formal/neutral. In everyday speech, Afrikaans speakers also often use party to mean some:

• Party getuies wag buite.

That has a slightly more conversational feel.

How is getuies formed? What is the singular?