myne/joune/syne/hare/s'n
Mine, Yours, Theirs
Before a noun you say my kar. Standing alone, it becomes myne: Die kar is myne. (The car is mine.) Others use s'n: Dit is Jan s'n.
How It Works
1. Singular forms. These replace my, jou, sy and haar when no noun follows:
- my → myne (mine)
- jou → joune (yours)
- sy → syne (his)
- haar → hare (hers)
2. Plural and polite forms. Ons, julle and hulle, and the polite u, add s'n:
- ons s'n (ours), julle s'n (yours), hulle s'n (theirs), u s'n (yours, polite)
3. Names and nouns. Where you would say se before a noun, use s'n when the noun is left out: Jan se kar → Dit is Jan s'n. My ma se tas → Dit is my ma s'n.
4. Asking whose. Wie s'n asks whose something is: Wie s'n is hierdie sleutels? (Whose keys are these?)
Tip: the standalone forms never go before a noun. Say my huis, but Die huis is myne.
Examples (6)
- Die kar is myne.
The car is mine.
Word by Word: The car is mine.
- Is hierdie pen joune?
Is this pen yours?
Word by Word: Is this pen yours?
- Die boek is nie syne nie, dit is hare.
The book isn't his, it's hers.
Word by Word: The book is not his not, it is hers.
- Ons huis is groot, maar hulle s'n is groter.
Our house is big, but theirs is bigger.
Word by Word: Our house is big, but they theirs is bigger.
Hulle s'n replaces hulle huis.
- Dit is nie my tas nie; dit is Jan s'n.
It isn't my bag; it's Jan's.
Word by Word: It is not my bag not; it is Jan his.
- Wie s'n is hierdie sleutels?
Whose keys are these?
Word by Word: Who his is these keys?
Common Mistakes
Using the plain possessive with no noun after it.
Die kar is my.Die kar is myne.With no noun after it, my changes to myne.
Using se when no noun follows.
Dit is nie my tas nie, dit is Jan se.Dit is nie my tas nie, dit is Jan s'n.Se needs a noun after it (Jan se tas). When the noun is left out, use s'n.
Putting a standalone form before a noun.
Myne huis is naby die skool.My huis is naby die skool.Before a noun, use my. Myne only stands on its own.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Standalone possessives replace a possessive + noun.
Related Patterns
- my/jou/sy/haar + NounPossessives: My, Your, His, Her
The forms used before a noun, which become myne, joune, syne and hare when they stand alone.
Level 1 - uPolite U
The polite possessive u becomes u s'n when it stands alone.
Level 1 - wie seWhose: Wie Se
Wie se asks whose before a noun; wie s'n asks it without one.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice myne/joune/syne/hare/s'n in Bubblegum
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