Yes/No Questions

Level 1

Swap the subject and the verb: Jy praat Afrikaans (You speak Afrikaans) becomes Praat jy Afrikaans? (Do you speak Afrikaans?)

How It Works

A question that is answered with ja (yes) or nee (no) starts with the verb. The subject comes right after it, and the rest of the sentence keeps its normal order.

  • Jy is moeg. → Is jy moeg? (Are you tired?)
  • Jy het 'n pen. → Het jy 'n pen? (Do you have a pen?)
  • Julle woon in Kaapstad. → Woon julle in Kaapstad? (Do you live in Cape Town?)

No do. English adds do or does to many questions. Afrikaans never does this. The verb you already have simply moves to the front.

Two verbs. Only the first verb moves to the front. A second verb stays at the end of the question: Kan jy my help? (Can you help me?), Wil jy koffie drink? (Do you want to drink coffee?). See modal verbs. A split verb keeps its small part at the end too: Staan jy vroeg op? (Do you get up early?). See separable verbs.

Negative questions keep the double nie: Is jy nie honger nie? (Aren't you hungry?). See double negation.

In speech people also ask by raising their voice at the end of a normal sentence, Jy kom môre?, or by adding nè: Jy kom môre, nè? (You're coming tomorrow, right?). Starting with the verb is the standard way, and it is always correct.

For questions with a question word such as waar or wat, see questions with a question word.

Examples (6)

  1. Praat jy Afrikaans?

    Do you speak Afrikaans?

    Word by Word: Speak you Afrikaans?

  2. Is jy moeg?

    Are you tired?

    Word by Word: Are you tired?

  3. Het jy 'n pen?

    Do you have a pen?

    Word by Word: Have you a pen?

  4. Kan jy my help?

    Can you help me?

    Word by Word: Can you me help?

    Kan goes first, and help stays at the end.

  5. Woon julle in Kaapstad?

    Do you live in Cape Town?

    Word by Word: Live you (plural) in Cape Town?

  6. Is jy nie honger nie?

    Aren't you hungry?

    Word by Word: Are you not hungry not?

    A negative question keeps both nie.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a word for English do.

    Doen jy praat Afrikaans?
    Praat jy Afrikaans?

    Afrikaans has no helper do in questions. Move the main verb to the front instead.

  • Moving both verbs to the front.

    Kan swem jy?
    Kan jy swem?

    Only the first verb goes before the subject. Any other verb stays at the end.

How It Connects

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

Yes/No QuestionsLevel 1

Learn This First

Yes/no questions move the verb to the front, which is easiest to see once basic word order is clear.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.