dit + Adjective + om te
It Is Nice to: Dit ... Om Te
To say what doing something is like, use Dit is + adjective + om ... te: Dit is lekker om te swem. (It is nice to swim.)
How It Works
1. The frame. Start with Dit is, add an adjective, then the activity with om ... te:
- Dit is lekker om te swem. (It is nice to swim.)
- Dit is moeilik om Afrikaans te spel. (It is hard to spell Afrikaans.)
- Dit is belangrik om genoeg water te drink. (It is important to drink enough water.)
2. Dit is needed. Like English it, dit fills the subject slot. You cannot leave it out. In speech, dit is often becomes dis: Dis lekker om te swem.
3. Other words go before te. The object and any time or place words stand between om and te: Dit is lekker om saans in die tuin te sit. (It is nice to sit in the garden in the evening.)
4. Past and future. Change only the verb after dit: Dit was lekker om jou te sien. (It was nice to see you.) Dit sal maklik wees om die huis te vind. (It will be easy to find the house.)
5. Saying for whom. Add vir + a person after the adjective: Dit is moeilik vir my om vroeg op te staan. (It is hard for me to get up early.)
Examples (6)
- Dit is lekker om te swem.
It is nice to swim.
Word by Word: It is nice for to swim.
- Dit is moeilik om Afrikaans te spel.
It is hard to spell Afrikaans.
Word by Word: It is difficult for Afrikaans to spell.
The object Afrikaans goes between om and te.
- Dit is belangrik om genoeg water te drink.
It is important to drink enough water.
Word by Word: It is important for enough water to drink.
- Dit was lekker om jou te sien.
It was nice to see you.
Word by Word: It was nice for you to see.
Only the verb changes for the past: was instead of is.
- Dis nie maklik om 'n nuwe taal te leer nie.
It isn't easy to learn a new language.
Word by Word: It's not easy for a new language to learn not.
Dis is the short form of dit is. The second nie comes at the very end.
- Dit is moeilik vir my om vroeg op te staan.
It is hard for me to get up early.
Word by Word: It is difficult for me for early up to stand.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out dit.
Is lekker om te swem.Dit is lekker om te swem.A statement needs a subject. Dit fills the subject slot, just like English it.
Putting the object after the infinitive.
Dit is moeilik om te spel Afrikaans.Dit is moeilik om Afrikaans te spel.The infinitive comes last. The object goes between om and te.
Leaving out te.
Dit is lekker om swem.Dit is lekker om te swem.The activity needs te right before the infinitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Dit + adjective + om te uses the empty subject dit and an om te clause.
Related Patterns
- dis/hy's/daar'sShort Forms: Dis, Hy's, Daar's
In speech dit is often shortens to dis.
Level 2 - te + Adjective + om teToo ... to and Enough to
Te moeg om te werk: another adjective + om te frame.
Level 4 - Verbs + om ... teVerbs Followed by Om Te
Verbs such as probeer are followed by the same om ... te phrase.
Level 3 - te Inside Separable Verbs
Shows where te goes in Dit is moeilik om op te staan.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice dit + Adjective + om te in Bubblegum
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