dit (Empty Subject)
Dit as an Empty Subject
Dit reën. (It is raining.) Dit is koud. (It is cold.) Dit is lekker hier. (It is nice here.)
How It Works
Where empty dit is used
- Weather: Dit reën. Dit sneeu. Dit waai.
- Temperature: Dit is koud buite.
- Time and days: Dit is laat. Dit is Maandag. See Telling the Time.
- How a situation is: Dit is lekker hier. Dit gaan goed. See How Are You?.
Word order
If a word such as vandag comes first, the verb stays second and dit follows it: Vandag reën dit. See Verb Second After a Fronted Word.
Dit or daar?
A quick test is to ask what English uses. If English says it, use dit: Dit is koud (It is cold). If English says there, use daar: Daar is melk (There is milk). Weather verbs never take daar.
In speech, dit is is often shortened to dis: Dis koud! See Short Forms: Dis, Hy's, Daar's. Dit is also the ordinary pronoun it; see Subject Pronouns Singular.
Examples (6)
- Dit reën vandag.
It's raining today.
Word by Word: It rains today.
- Dit is koud buite.
It's cold outside.
Word by Word: It is cold outside.
- Dit is al laat. Kom ons gaan huis toe.
It's already late. Let's go home.
Word by Word: It is already late. Come we go house to.
- Vandag waai dit baie sterk.
It's very windy today.
Word by Word: Today blows it very strongly.
Vandag comes first, so dit follows the verb.
- Dit is lekker hier by die see.
It's nice here by the sea.
Word by Word: It is nice here by the sea.
- Hoe gaan dit? Dit gaan goed, dankie.
How are you? I'm fine, thanks.
Word by Word: How goes it? It goes well, thanks.
Dit is empty in this common greeting too.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the subject.
Is koud vandag.Dit is koud vandag.An Afrikaans statement needs a subject. Dit fills the slot, as it does in English.
Using daar for weather or temperature.
Daar is koud vandag.Dit is koud vandag.Daar is means there is and says that something exists. For weather, temperature and time, use dit.
Keeping dit before the verb after a fronted word.
Vandag dit reën.Vandag reën dit.When another word comes first, the verb must be second, so dit moves after it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Dit as an empty subject is most often used with is.
Related Patterns
- daar isThere Is and There Are
Daar is says that something exists, while dit is describes conditions.
Level 1 - ek/jy/hy/sy/ditSubject Pronouns Singular
Dit is also the ordinary pronoun it for things.
Level 1 - Verb Second After a Fronted Word
After a fronted word, dit moves behind the verb.
Level 2 - hoe gaan dit?How Are You?
The greeting Hoe gaan dit? uses empty dit.
Level 1 - Telling the Time
Times are given with dit: Dit is tienuur.
Level 2 - dis/hy's/daar'sShort Forms: Dis, Hy's, Daar's
In speech, dit is often becomes dis.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice dit (Empty Subject) in Bubblegum
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