so 'n/sulke

Such: So 'N and Sulke

Level 2

So 'n + one thing: so 'n mooi dag (such a nice day). Sulke + many things: sulke lekker koekies (such tasty cookies).

How It Works

1. So 'n with one thing. So 'n means such a and goes before a singular noun:

  • Dit is so 'n mooi dag! (It's such a nice day!)
  • Ek wil ook so 'n fiets hê. (I also want a bike like that.)

2. Sulke with plurals. Sulke goes before plural nouns: Jy bak sulke lekker koekies. (You bake such tasty cookies.) Ek hou nie van sulke mense nie. (I don't like people like that.)

3. Sulke with uncountable nouns. Sulke also goes before nouns you cannot count: Jy maak sulke lekker koffie. (You make such nice coffee.)

4. Adjectives follow the normal rules. An adjective after so 'n or sulke behaves as it does after 'n: so 'n groot huis, sulke goeie vriende. See when adjectives take -e.

5. On their own. For one like that, say so een: So een het ek nog nooit gesien nie. For ones like that, say sulkes.

Tip: For an exclamation such as What a nice day!, Afrikaans also uses wat 'n: Wat 'n mooi dag!

Examples (6)

  1. Dit is so 'n mooi dag!

    It's such a nice day!

    Word by Word: It is so a nice day!

  2. Jy bak sulke lekker koekies.

    You bake such tasty cookies.

    Word by Word: You bake such tasty cookies.

    Koekies is plural, so sulke is used.

  3. Ek het nog nooit so 'n groot hond gesien nie.

    I have never seen such a big dog.

    Word by Word: I have yet never so a big dog seen not.

  4. Ek hou nie van sulke mense nie.

    I don't like people like that.

    Word by Word: I hold not of such people not.

  5. Jy maak sulke lekker koffie.

    You make such nice coffee.

    Word by Word: You make such tasty coffee.

    Koffie cannot be counted, so sulke is used.

  6. Ek wil ook so 'n fiets hê.

    I also want a bike like that.

    Word by Word: I want also so a bicycle have.

Common Mistakes

  • Using sulke with a singular countable noun.

    Ek wil sulke kar hê.
    Ek wil so 'n kar hê.

    Kar is one countable thing, so use so 'n. Sulke goes with plural and uncountable nouns.

  • Using so 'n with a plural noun.

    Sy het so 'n mooi blomme.
    Sy het sulke mooi blomme.

    Blomme is plural, so use sulke. So 'n is only for one thing.

  • Translating such a word for word as sulke 'n.

    Dit is sulke 'n mooi huis.
    Dit is so 'n mooi huis.

    Such a is so 'n. Sulke never goes with 'n.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

so 'n/sulkeLevel 2Such: So 'N and Sulke

Learn This First

So 'n is built on 'n.

Words in This Pattern

sosulkeso