'n + Noun
The Article 'N
'n means a or an before a singular noun: 'n hond (a dog), 'n appel (an apple). It sounds like a short, weak uh.
How It Works
The article 'n works much like English a and an, with a few differences:
- One form for everything. There is no separate form before a vowel: 'n hond (a dog), 'n appel (an apple), 'n uur (an hour).
- It is always weak. 'n sounds like the a in English about. To stress the number one, use een: Ek het net een broer. (I have only one brother.) See cardinal numbers 1-20.
- Only for one thing. Plural nouns and things you cannot count take no article: Ek koop appels. (I'm buying apples.) Ek drink water. (I drink water.)
- Jobs. As in English, 'n goes before a job: Sy is 'n dokter. (She is a doctor.)
Spelling. 'n is always written with an apostrophe before the n. It never takes a capital letter, even at the start of a sentence. The next word gets the capital instead: 'n Man staan buite.
Adjectives go between 'n and the noun, as in English: 'n groot huis (a big house), 'n interessante boek (an interesting book). See adjective + -e.
To say no or not any, Afrikaans uses geen: Ek het geen geld nie. (I have no money.)
Examples (6)
- Ek het 'n hond.
I have a dog.
- Sy eet 'n appel.
She is eating an apple.
Word by Word: She eats an apple.
'n stays the same before a vowel.
- 'n Man staan buite.
A man is standing outside.
Word by Word: A man stands outside.
At the start of a sentence, the capital goes on Man, not on 'n.
- Hy woon in 'n groot huis.
He lives in a big house.
The adjective goes between 'n and the noun.
- Dit is 'n goeie idee.
That's a good idea.
Word by Word: It is a good idea.
- Sy is 'n dokter.
She is a doctor.
As in English, 'n goes before a job.
Common Mistakes
Capitalizing 'n at the start of a sentence.
'N Man staan buite.'n Man staan buite.'n never takes a capital letter. The next word is capitalized instead.
Using 'n with a plural noun.
Ek koop 'n appels.Ek koop appels.'n is only for one thing. A plural noun takes no article.
Leaving out the apostrophe.
Ek het n hond.Ek het 'n hond.The article is always written 'n, with an apostrophe.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The article 'n is easiest to learn next to die.
Related Patterns
- No Noun Gender
Explains why 'n is the same before every noun.
Level 1 - Numbers 1-20
Een is the stressed number one, unlike the weak 'n.
Level 1 - geenNo, Not Any: Geen
The word for no or not any.
Level 2 - Adjective + -eWhen Adjectives Take -e
Explains when an adjective adds -e after 'n, as in 'n interessante boek.
Level 2 - party/sommige/'n paarSome and a Few
'n paar (a few) is used with plural nouns.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice 'n + Noun in Bubblegum
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