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Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ons wag daarvoor. - We wait for it.

Hardcore Afrikaans
/Watching rugby with friends
/Ons wag daarvoor.

Ons wag daarvoor.

Word

Ons wag daarvoor.

Meaning

We wait for it.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Afrikaans

Lesson

Watching rugby with friends

Breakdown of Ons wag daarvoor.

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Questions & Answers about Ons wag daarvoor.

What does each word in Ons wag daarvoor do grammatically?

Ons = the subject pronoun, we
wag = the finite verb, wait
daarvoor = a pronominal adverb meaning something like for it / for that

So the structure is:

subject + verb + pronominal adverb

Why is daarvoor one word?

Because Afrikaans often combines daar- with a preposition to make a single word:

daarin = in it / in that
daarop = on it / on that
daarmee = with it / with that
daarvoor = for it / for that

This is a very common pattern. In this kind of word, daar- does not literally mean physical there. It points back to something already mentioned, so it functions more like that or it.

Why not just say Ons wag vir dit?

Afrikaans often prefers a pronominal adverb like daarvoor when referring to a thing, idea, situation, or event rather than a person.

So:

Ons wag daarvoor = the normal compact way to say we are waiting for it/that
Ons wag vir dit is understandable, but it is often less idiomatic

A very important contrast:

Ons wag vir hom = we are waiting for him
Ons wag vir haar = we are waiting for her

For people, you normally use vir + pronoun, not daarvoor.

Why does vir seem to become voor in daarvoor?

This is one of those forms that learners usually just need to memorize.

Even though Afrikaans often uses vir as the separate word meaning for, the compound pronominal form is:

daarvoor
hiervoor
waarvoor

not daarvir.

So the safest rule is:

separate form: often vir
compound form with daar-/hier-/waar-: learn the fixed word daarvoor

Why is the verb just wag? Shouldn’t it change for we?

No. Afrikaans verbs usually do not change for person or number in the present tense.

Compare:

Ek wag = I wait / am waiting
Jy wag = you wait / are waiting
Ons wag = we wait / are waiting
Hulle wag = they wait / are waiting

This is much simpler than English.

Does Ons wag daarvoor mean We wait for it or We are waiting for it?

It can mean either one, depending on context.

Afrikaans simple present often covers both:

an ordinary present meaning
an ongoing present meaning

So Ons wag daarvoor can naturally mean:

We wait for it
We are waiting for it

If you really want to stress the ongoing action, Afrikaans can say:

Ons is besig om daarvoor te wag = we are busy waiting for it / we are in the process of waiting for it

But in many everyday situations, the simple Ons wag daarvoor is enough.

Can daarvoor refer to a person?

Normally, no.

Use daarvoor for a thing, idea, plan, event, or situation. For a person, use vir + pronoun/name.

Examples:

Ons wag daarvoor = we are waiting for it/that
Ons wag vir Anna = we are waiting for Anna
Ons wag vir hom = we are waiting for him

That is a very useful distinction to remember.

How would I make this sentence negative?

You use the usual Afrikaans double negative:

Ons wag nie daarvoor nie.

Pattern:

Ons = subject
wag = verb
nie = first negative marker
daarvoor = for it/that
nie = second negative marker

So Afrikaans says, literally:

We wait not for it not

but in natural English: We are not waiting for it.

What happens to the word order if this is inside a clause with dat?

In a main clause, the verb comes early:

Ons wag daarvoor.

But after dat, the verb usually moves to the end:

Ek weet dat ons daarvoor wag. = I know that we are waiting for it.

So this sentence is useful for seeing the contrast:

main clause: Ons wag daarvoor
dat-clause: dat ons daarvoor wag

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