elke/alle/almal/alles
Every, All, Everyone, Everything
Elke dag (every day), alle kinders (all children), almal (everyone), alles (everything). Al die means all the: al die kinders.
How It Works
1. Elke: every. Elke goes before a singular noun: elke dag (every day), elke kind (every child). Elkeen means each one or everyone.
2. Alle and al die: all. Alle goes before a plural noun: Alle kinders moet skool toe gaan. (All children must go to school.) For all the, say al die: Al die kinders speel buite. (All the children are playing outside.) In speech, al die is used much more than alle. Al die also works with uncountable nouns: al die geld (all the money).
3. Almal: everyone. Almal stands on its own and refers to people: Almal is hier. (Everyone is here.) It can join a plural pronoun, usually after the verb: Ons ken hom almal. (We all know him.) Because almal is plural, it goes with hulle: Almal is trots op hulle kinders. (Everyone is proud of their children.)
4. Alles: everything. Alles refers to things: Alles is reg. (Everything is fine.) Dankie vir alles. (Thanks for everything.)
Tip: These words match pairs you already know: iemand and almal for people, iets and alles for things.
Examples (6)
- Ek stap elke dag werk toe.
I walk to work every day.
Word by Word: I walk every day work to.
Elke goes before a singular noun.
- Alle kinders moet skool toe gaan.
All children must go to school.
Word by Word: All children must school to go.
- Al die kinders speel buite.
All the children are playing outside.
Word by Word: All the children play outside.
Al die is the everyday way to say all the.
- Almal is hier.
Everyone is here.
Word by Word: Everyone is here.
- Alles is reg.
Everything is fine.
Word by Word: Everything is right.
- Ons ken hom almal.
We all know him.
Word by Word: We know him all.
With a pronoun, almal usually comes after the verb.
Common Mistakes
Using a plural noun after elke.
Elke kinders kry 'n boek.Elke kind kry 'n boek.Elke goes with a singular noun. For a plural, use alle or al die: al die kinders.
Saying alles when you mean everyone.
Alles is hier.Almal is hier.Alles means everything. For people, use almal.
Saying alle die for all the.
Ek het alle die koek geëet.Ek het al die koek geëet.Before die, use al: al die koek, al die kinders.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These words for every and all go with singular and plural nouns.
Related Patterns
- iets/niksSomething and Nothing
Iets and niks are the something and nothing partners of alles.
Level 2 - iemand/niemandSomeone and No One
Iemand and niemand are the someone and no one partners of almal.
Level 2 - altyd/nooitAlways and Never
Altyd means always, the every of time.
Level 2 - êrens/nêrensSomewhere and Nowhere
Place words from the same family: somewhere and nowhere.
Level 2 - enige/enigiets/enigiemandAny: Enige
Enige means any, which differs from every and all.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice elke/alle/almal/alles in Bubblegum
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