dis/hy's/daar's
Short Forms: Dis, Hy's, Daar's
In everyday speech, is often joins the word in front of it: Dis koud vandag. (It's cold today.) dis = dit is, hy's = hy is, daar's = daar is.
How It Works
1. The common short forms.
- dis = dit is: Dis koud vandag. (It's cold today.)
- hy's = hy is: Hy's moeg. (He's tired.)
- sy's = sy is: Sy's by die werk. (She's at work.)
- daar's = daar is: Daar's 'n probleem. (There's a problem.)
- wat's = wat is, waar's = waar is, wie's = wie is: Waar's my sleutels? (Where are my keys?)
2. How to write them. Dis is one word with no apostrophe. The other forms use an apostrophe for the missing i: hy's, sy's, daar's. Don't write dit's.
3. Same grammar as is. A short form works exactly like the full is, so a negative still needs both nie: Dis nie waar nie. (It's not true.) Daar's is simply daar is, for one thing or many: Daar's baie mense hier. (There are lots of people here.)
4. When to use the full form. Keep the full words when is carries the stress, as in a short answer: Is sy by die huis? Ja, sy is. In formal writing, such as an essay or an official letter, write the full forms (see spoken and written Afrikaans).
Tip: dis looks like English this, but it always stands for dit is, which English says as it is, that is or this is: Dis reg! (That's right!) Dis my ma. (This is my mom.) For this before a noun, use hierdie.
Examples (6)
- Dis koud vandag.
It's cold today.
Word by Word: It's cold today.
Dis is the short form of dit is.
- Hy's baie moeg.
He's very tired.
Word by Word: He's very tired.
- Daar's 'n probleem met die kar.
There's a problem with the car.
Word by Word: There's a problem with the car.
- Waar's my sleutels?
Where are my keys?
Word by Word: Where's my keys?
Is is used with plural subjects too, so waar's works for many keys.
- Sy's nie hier nie.
She isn't here.
Word by Word: She's not here not.
A negative with a short form still needs both nie.
- Dis reg!
That's right!
Word by Word: It's right!
Common Mistakes
Writing dit's instead of dis.
Dit's koud vandag.Dis koud vandag.The short form of dit is is spelled dis, as one word without an apostrophe.
Using dis to mean this.
Dis boek is myne.Hierdie boek is myne.Dis always stands for dit is. The word for this before a noun is hierdie.
Using a short form in a stressed short answer.
Is sy by die huis? Ja, sy's.Is sy by die huis? Ja, sy is.When is is the last, stressed word, say it in full.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The short forms join a subject with is.
Related Patterns
- is/weesTo Be: Is and Wees
The full verb is that the short forms come from.
Level 1 - wat/wieWhat and Who
Question words that also join with is: wat's, wie's.
Level 1 - Spoken and Written Afrikaans
When short forms fit and when to write the full forms.
Level 5 - hierdie/daardieThis and That
The word for this before a noun, which dis never replaces.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice dis/hy's/daar's in Bubblegum
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