hy for Things
Waar is my foon? Hy lê op die tafel. (It's on the table.) In speech, hy and hom often mean "it" for a thing.
How It Works
1. Hy for a thing. In everyday speech, a single object is often hy:
- Waar is my foon? Hy lê op die tafel.
- My kar is oud, maar hy loop nog lekker.
2. Hom as the object. As an object, use hom: Ek kan hom nêrens kry nie. (I can't find it anywhere.)
3. Dit in careful writing. In reports, formal emails and school essays, dit is more usual: Die verslag is klaar en dit is op die webwerf beskikbaar.
4. When it must be dit. Use dit, not hy:
- to present or point something out: Dit is my nuwe fiets.
- for a whole situation or idea: Ek het my werk verloor. Dit is erg.
- as an empty subject: Dit reën.
5. Plural. For more than one thing, use hulle: My skoene? Hulle staan by die deur.
Tip: this has nothing to do with gender. Afrikaans has no noun gender, so hy for a thing is just a habit of speech.
Examples (6)
- Waar is my foon? Hy lê op die tafel.
Where is my phone? It's on the table.
Word by Word: Where is my phone? He lies on the table.
- My kar is oud, maar hy loop nog lekker.
My car is old, but it still runs well.
Word by Word: My car is old, but he runs still nicely.
- Het jy my pen gesien? Ek kan hom nêrens kry nie.
Have you seen my pen? I can't find it anywhere.
Word by Word: Have you my pen seen? I can him nowhere get not.
Hom is the object form.
- Die rekenaar is stadig. Skakel hom af en weer aan.
The computer is slow. Switch it off and on again.
Word by Word: The computer is slow. Switch him off and again on.
- Die verslag is klaar en dit is op die webwerf beskikbaar.
The report is finished and it is available on the website.
Word by Word: The report is finished and it is on the website available.
In careful writing, dit is more usual.
- My skoene? Hulle staan by die deur.
My shoes? They are by the door.
Word by Word: My shoes? They stand by the door.
Common Mistakes
Using hy to present or point something out.
Kyk, hy is my nuwe fiets!Kyk, dit is my nuwe fiets!To introduce or point out a thing, Afrikaans always uses dit is. Hy can only refer back to a thing already mentioned.
Using hy for a whole situation.
Ek het my werk verloor. Hy is baie erg.Ek het my werk verloor. Dit is baie erg.Hy can refer to a single thing. For an event, a situation or an idea, use dit.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Hy can refer to things as well as male people.
Related Patterns
- my/jou/hom/haarObject Pronouns
Hom is the object form used for things too.
Level 1 - No Noun Gender
Hy for things is a speech habit, not grammatical gender.
Level 1 - dit (Empty Subject)Dit as an Empty Subject
Dit, never hy, fills an empty subject slot: Dit reën.
Level 1 - dis/hy's/daar'sShort Forms: Dis, Hy's, Daar's
In speech, hy is often shortened: Hy's op die tafel.
Level 2 - Spoken and Written Afrikaans
Hy for things is typical of speech; dit is more usual in writing.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice hy for Things in Bubblegum
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