One Verb Form for Everyone
ek werk, jy werk, hy werk, ons werk, hulle werk. One form means both I work and I am working.
How It Works
One form for everyone
Take the verb and use it as it is: ek lees, jy lees, sy lees, julle lees, hulle lees. Nothing is added for he, she or they.
What the present covers
- What is happening now: Wat doen jy nou? Ek kook.
- Habits: Sy lees elke aand 'n boek.
- Things that are generally true: Die son skyn in die dag.
- Often the future, with a time word: Ons ry môre. See Present Tense for the Future.
To stress that something is going on right now, you can use is besig om te, but the plain present is usually enough.
No helper verb in questions or negatives
Afrikaans has no do-helper. Put the verb first for a question: Praat jy Afrikaans? For negatives, add nie: Ek praat nie Duits nie. See Yes/No Questions and Double Negation.
In a statement, the verb stays in second place. See Basic Word Order.
Examples (6)
- Ek werk in 'n winkel.
I work in a shop.
Word by Word: I work in a shop.
- Hulle werk ook daar.
They work there too.
Word by Word: They work also there.
The verb is the same for hulle as for ek.
- Wat doen jy nou? Ek kook.
What are you doing now? I'm cooking.
Word by Word: What do you now? I cook.
One form covers an action happening right now.
- Sy lees elke aand 'n boek.
She reads a book every evening.
Word by Word: She reads every evening a book.
The same form describes a habit.
- Praat jy Afrikaans?
Do you speak Afrikaans?
Word by Word: Speak you Afrikaans?
Questions need no helper like English do.
- Die son skyn vandag.
The sun is shining today.
Word by Word: The sun shines today.
Common Mistakes
Adding an ending to the verb for he or she.
Hy werkt hard.Hy werk hard.Afrikaans verbs have no endings. There is no -t as in Dutch and no -s as in English.
Translating I am working word for word with is.
Ek is werk nou.Ek werk nou.The plain present already means I am working. Is is not added before the verb.
Adding doen as a question helper.
Doen jy praat Afrikaans?Praat jy Afrikaans?Afrikaans has no do-helper. Put the verb first to ask a question.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The present tense uses one verb form for every person, so first learn the subject pronouns.
Related Patterns
- is/weesTo Be: Is and Wees
Is is the present of to be and has one form for every person.
Level 1 - het/hêTo Have: Het and Hê
Het is the present of to have and has one form for every person.
Level 1 - Basic Word Order
In a statement, the present-tense verb stays in second place.
Level 1 - Present Tense for the Future
The present tense often describes the future when a time word is added.
Level 2 - is besig om teIn the Middle of Doing: Besig Om Te
Is besig om te stresses that an action is in progress.
Level 2 - Yes/No Questions
A question puts the present-tense verb first, with no helper verb.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice One Verb Form for Everyone in Bubblegum
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