al dan nie

Whether or Not: Al Dan Nie

Level 5

Add al dan nie after the thing in doubt: Die hof moet besluit of hy skuldig is al dan nie. (The court must decide whether or not he is guilty.)

How It Works

1. In an of clause. This is the most common place. Al dan nie can stand right after the subject, or at the end after the verb:

  • Die paneel moet bepaal of die speler al dan nie 'n oortreding begaan het. (The panel must determine whether or not the player committed a foul.)
  • Laat asseblief weet of u die vergadering sal bywoon al dan nie. (Please let us know whether or not you will attend the meeting.)

2. After a noun. In essays and reports, al dan nie can follow a noun, often between commas. English then says "or otherwise" or "whether or not":

  • Die sukses al dan nie van die projek hang van die begroting af. (Whether or not the project succeeds depends on the budget.)

3. A fixed phrase. Do not add the second nie of double negation. The phrase always stays al dan nie.

4. Not straight after of. English can say "whether or not he is guilty". In Afrikaans a pronoun subject such as hy comes right after of: of hy al dan nie skuldig is or of hy skuldig is al dan nie, never of al dan nie hy skuldig is. Put a noun subject straight after of as well.

Everyday Afrikaans: say of nie: Laat weet my of jy kom of nie. Al dan nie belongs to courts, reports, formal letters and debates.

Examples (6)

  1. Die hof moet besluit of hy skuldig is al dan nie.

    The court must decide whether or not he is guilty.

    Word by Word: The court must decide whether he guilty is or-not.

  2. Die paneel moet bepaal of die speler al dan nie 'n oortreding begaan het.

    The panel must determine whether or not the player committed a foul.

    Word by Word: The panel must determine whether the player or-not an offence committed has.

    Here al dan nie comes right after the subject, die speler.

  3. Laat asseblief weet of u die vergadering sal bywoon al dan nie.

    Please let us know whether or not you will attend the meeting.

    Word by Word: Let please know whether you the meeting will attend or-not.

  4. Die dokter moet bepaal of die besering ernstig is al dan nie.

    The doctor has to determine whether or not the injury is serious.

    Word by Word: The doctor must determine whether the injury serious is or-not.

  5. Kiesers moet self besluit of hulle die voorstel steun al dan nie.

    Voters must decide for themselves whether or not they support the proposal.

    Word by Word: Voters must self decide whether they the proposal support or-not.

  6. Die sukses al dan nie van die projek hang van die begroting af.

    Whether or not the project succeeds depends on the budget.

    Word by Word: The success or-not of the project hangs from the budget off.

    Here al dan nie follows a noun, a style found in reports and essays.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting al dan nie straight after of, as in English "whether or not".

    Die hof moet besluit of al dan nie hy skuldig is.
    Die hof moet besluit of hy skuldig is al dan nie.

    A pronoun subject such as hy must come right after of. Put al dan nie after the subject or at the end of the clause.

  • Adding a second nie.

    Die hof moet besluit of hy skuldig is al dan nie nie.
    Die hof moet besluit of hy skuldig is al dan nie.

    Al dan nie is a fixed phrase. It does not take the second nie of double negation.

How It Connects

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

al dan nieLevel 5Whether or Not: Al Dan Nie

Learn This First

Al dan nie means whether or not.