Afrikaanse Vooornaamwoorde

Afrikaans Prepositions

• Afrikaans prepositions are words that show the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. They indicate location, time, direction, manner, instrument, or other relationships.
• Afrikaans prepositions are typically placed before the noun or pronoun they govern.
• Different prepositions have different meanings and implications, and the correct use depends on the context and the intended message.
• Like English, some prepositions can be used ambiguously, and the intended meaning is often inferred from the surrounding words in the sentence.

Common Afrikaans Prepositions

• Aan: on, to, at, by, against, beside. Implies contact or proximity. Example: Die boek lê aan die tafel (The book lies on the table).
• Aan die: on the, at the, to the. Indicates a location or action in relation to something. Example: Sy staan aan die deur. (She stands at the door.)
• Aangesien: because, as, since (implies reason). Example: Aangesien jy siek is, kan jy nie skole toe gaan nie. (Since you are sick, you cannot go to school.)
• Agter: behind, after. Specifies a position or time relative to something else. Example: Die hond lê agter die boom. (The dog is behind the tree).
• Altyd: Always. Often used with a preposition to indicate the frequency of an action or state. Example: Altyd naby die vriende! (Always close to friends!)
• By: at, by, near. Denotes location or proximity. Example: Ek sien hom by die winkel. (I see him at the shop).
• Deur: through, by, by means of. Emphasizes a means or process of doing something. Example: Die water loop deur die pyp. (The water flows through the pipe). Also signifies agency – Example: The car was repaired deur the mechanic.
• Danksy: thanks to, due to. Expresses gratitude or cause. Example: Danksy jou hulp, het ek die werk klaar gekry. (Thanks to your help, I finished the work.).
• Die: the. A definite article, not a preposition.
• Gedurende: during, throughout, for the duration of. Example: Gedurende die somer, was dit baie warm. (During the summer, it was very hot.)
• In: in, into. Shows location within a specific area. Example: Die kat is in die boks. (The cat is in the box).
• Met: with, by means of. Indicates a tool, companion, or a process of doing something. Example: Hy speel met 'n bal. (He plays with a ball.)
• Na: to, after (in the sense of direction or time). Example: Ek gaan na die winkel. (I am going to the shop).
• Ná: after (in the sense of time). Example: Ná die skool, gaan ek huis toe. (After school, I'm going home).
• Op: on, upon. Refers to a surface or a state. Example: Die boek lê op die tafel. (The book lies on the table.)
• Om: about, around, concerning. Indicates a topic or an area. Example: Ek praat om die ouers. (I'm talking to the parents)
• Onder: under, beneath. Indicates a location below something. Example: Die hond lê onder die tafel. (The dog is under the table.)
• Tussen: between, among. Relates to two or more items or people. Example: Die boek lê tussen die penne. (The book is between the pens).
• Vir: for, to, about. Indicates a purpose, target, or duration of something. Example: Ek koop 'n boek vir jou. (I buy a book for you.)
• Voor: in front of, before. Example: Kyk voor jou! (Look in front of you!)
• Van: from, of. Indicates separation, origin, or material. Example: Die boek is van papier. (The book is of paper.)
• Verdediging van: defence of
• Verlede jaar: last year.
• Voorheen: formerly, previously.

Idiomatic Uses

• Understanding the nuances and idiomatic expressions in which particular words are used is key to correctly interpreting their prepositional functions in common phrases.
• The exact meaning of a preposition is context-dependent.

Importance of Context

• Always consider the surrounding words and the sentence structure when determining the meaning of a preposition. The meaning may vary depending on usage. For example, "aan" might mean "on" or "at" depending on other words present in the sentence.