onder/agter/langs/tussen

Where Things Are: Onder, Agter, Langs, Tussen

Level 2

onder = under, agter = behind, langs = next to or along, tussen = between: Die kat slaap onder die tafel. (The cat sleeps under the table.)

How It Works

1. Onder: under, below, among.

  • Die skoene is onder die bed. (The shoes are under the bed.)
  • kinders onder twaalf (children under twelve)
  • onder vriende (among friends)

2. Agter: behind. Die tuin is agter die huis. (The garden is behind the house.) agter in die kar means in the back of the car.

3. Langs: next to, along. Sy sit langs my. (She sits next to me.) Ons stap langs die rivier. (We walk along the river.)

4. Tussen: between, among. Die winkel is tussen die bank en die kerk. (The shop is between the bank and the church.) Afrikaans uses tussen for two things or for many: tussen die bome (among the trees). It works for time too: tussen twee en drie (between two and three o'clock).

5. Pronouns after these words. Use the object form: langs my, agter hom, tussen ons (see object pronouns). For a thing, Afrikaans often uses a daar word: daaronder (under it), daaragter (behind it) (see daar + preposition).

6. With position verbs. Afrikaans often says where things are with lê, staan or sit (see position verbs): Die boek lê onder die koerant. (The book is under the newspaper.)

Tip: agter means behind, not after. For after in time, use ná.

Examples (6)

  1. Die kat slaap onder die tafel.

    The cat is sleeping under the table.

    Word by Word: The cat sleeps under the table.

  2. Die fietse staan agter die huis.

    The bikes are behind the house.

    Word by Word: The bikes stand behind the house.

  3. Kom sit langs my.

    Come and sit next to me.

    Word by Word: Come sit next-to me.

    After langs, use the object pronoun my.

  4. Ons stap elke oggend langs die strand.

    We walk along the beach every morning.

    Word by Word: We walk every morning along the beach.

    Here langs means along.

  5. Die apteek is tussen die bank en die bakkery.

    The pharmacy is between the bank and the bakery.

    Word by Word: The pharmacy is between the bank and the bakery.

  6. Kinders onder twaalf ry gratis.

    Children under twelve ride for free.

    Word by Word: Children under twelve ride free.

Common Mistakes

  • Using agter to mean after.

    Ons speel agter skool sokker.
    Ons speel ná skool sokker.

    Agter looks like English after, but it means behind. For time, after is ná.

  • Using a subject pronoun after the preposition.

    Sy sit langs ek.
    Sy sit langs my.

    After a preposition, use the object form: my, jou, hom, haar.

How It Connects

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onder/agter/langs/tussenLevel 2Where Things Are: Onder, Agter, Langs, Tussen

Learn This First

These place prepositions are learned after in and op.

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Words in This Pattern

onderagterlangstussenonder