êrens/nêrens
Somewhere and Nowhere
Êrens means somewhere and nêrens means nowhere. Nêrens takes a second nie at the end: Ek kan hom nêrens kry nie.
How It Works
1. Êrens. Êrens means somewhere, and in questions anywhere:
- Hulle woon êrens naby Durban. (They live somewhere near Durban.)
- Is daar êrens hier 'n apteek? (Is there a pharmacy anywhere around here?)
2. Nêrens and nie. Nêrens takes the place of the first nie in the double negative, and nie goes at the end: Ek kan hom nêrens kry nie. (I can't find him anywhere.) Do not add another nie before nêrens.
3. Useful phrases. nêrens te sien nie (nowhere to be seen), nêrens heen nie (nowhere, as a destination): Ons gaan vanaand nêrens heen nie.
4. Spelling. Both words have a kappie on the e: êrens, nêrens. The ê is a long, open sound.
Tip: the same pattern works for iets and niks and iemand and niemand. To ask where, use waar.
Examples (6)
- Ek het my sleutels êrens neergesit.
I put my keys down somewhere.
Word by Word: I have my keys somewhere down-put.
- Ek kan hom nêrens kry nie.
I can't find him anywhere.
Word by Word: I can him nowhere find not.
Nêrens is the first negative, and nie closes the sentence.
- Hulle woon êrens naby Durban.
They live somewhere near Durban.
Word by Word: They live somewhere near Durban.
- Is daar êrens hier 'n apteek?
Is there a pharmacy anywhere around here?
Word by Word: Is there somewhere here a pharmacy?
In a question, êrens means anywhere.
- Die kat is nêrens te sien nie.
The cat is nowhere to be seen.
Word by Word: The cat is nowhere to see not.
- Ons gaan vanaand nêrens heen nie.
We're not going anywhere tonight.
Word by Word: We go tonight nowhere to not.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the closing nie after nêrens.
Ek kan hom nêrens kry.Ek kan hom nêrens kry nie.Nêrens is the first negative, and the sentence still needs nie at the end.
Leaving out the kappie.
Ek het my sleutels erens neergesit.Ek het my sleutels êrens neergesit.Êrens and nêrens are always written with a kappie on the e.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Êrens and nêrens follow the same pattern as iemand and niemand.
Related Patterns
- iets/niksSomething and Nothing
The same pattern for things: iets and niks.
Level 2 - nie ... nieDouble Negation
The double negative pattern that nêrens follows.
Level 1 - hier/daarHere and There
Other everyday place words: hier and daar.
Level 1 - The Kappie (Circumflex)
Êrens and nêrens are written with the kappie.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice êrens/nêrens in Bubblegum
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