Afrikaans Language Structures and Conventions (Section D) Comprehensive Notes

Afdeling D: Taalstrukture en Konvensies (Section D: Language Structures and Conventions)

• Total Point Value: This section is worth 20 points.

• Scope: This section covers the fundamental rules of the Afrikaans language, focusing on grammar, morphology, syntax, and punctuation.

Sinsoorte (Sentence Types)

• Stelsin (Statement): A sentence that gives information or states a fact. It usually ends with a full stop.     * Example: $Die\,seun\,skop\,die\,bal.$

• Vraagsin (Question): A sentence used to ask for information. It typically starts with a question word (e.g., $Wie, wat, waar, wanneer, hoekom, waarom, hoe$) or a verb, and ends with a question mark.     * Example: $Het\,jy\,die\,huiswerk\,voltooi?$

• Bevelsin (Command): A sentence that gives an instruction or a direct order. The verb often starts the sentence.     * Example: $Maak\,die\,deur\,toe!$

• Uitroepsin (Exclamation): A sentence used to express strong emotion, such as joy, anger, or surprise. It ends with an exclamation mark.     * Example: $Wat\,'n\,pragtige\,dag!$

Bywoorde (Adverbs)

• Definition: Adverbs describe or give more information about verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They describe how, when, where, and to what extent an action takes place.

• Bywoord van Tyd (Adverb of Time): Indicates when an action happens (e.g., $nou, môre, gister, dadelik, kort-kort$).

• Bywoord van Plek (Adverb of Place): Indicates where an action happens (e.g., $hier, daar, oral, bo, onder$).

• Bywoord van Wyse (Adverb of Manner): Indicates how an action happens (e.g., $vinnig, stadig, goed, hardop$).

• Bywoord van Graad (Adverb of Degree): Indicates the intensity or extent (e.g., $baie, heeltemal, uiters$).

Voor- en Agtervoegsels (Prefixes and Suffixes)

• Morfologie (Morphology): The study of word formation using a "stam" (root/stem) and affixes.

• Voorvoegsels (Prefixes): Morphemes added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning (e.g., $ge-\,, be-\,, er-\,, ont-\,, her-\,, ver-\,, mis-\,$).     * Example: $ken\,\rightarrow\,herken$

• Agtervoegsels (Suffixes): Morphemes added to the end of a word to change its meaning or part of speech (e.g., $-skap, -ing, -heid, -er, -tjie$).     * Example: $vriend\,\rightarrow\,vriendskap$

Trappe van Vergelyking (Degrees of Comparison)

• Stel-trap (Positive): The base form of the adjective (e.g., $groot$).

• Vergrotende trap (Comparative): Comparing two things, usually adding $-er$ (e.g., $groter$).

• Oortreffende trap (Superlative): Comparing more than two things, usually adding $die\,...\,-(e)ste$ (e.g., $die\,grootste$).

• Spelling Rules:     * Short vowel + consonant: Double the consonant (e.g., $dik\,\rightarrow\,dikker\,\rightarrow\,dikste$).     * Twin vowels: Drop one vowel (e.g., $groot\,\rightarrow\,groter\,\rightarrow\,grootste$).     * Ending in $-r$: Add $-der$ in the comparative (e.g., $duur\,\rightarrow\,duurder\,\rightarrow\,duurste$).     * Ending in $-s$: Add $-er$ in the comparative (e.g., $los\,\rightarrow\,losser\,\rightarrow\,losste$).

Verkleinwoorde (Diminutives)

• Purpose: Used to describe small versions of objects or to express affection.

• Ending Rules:     * -tjie: Words ending in $l, n, r$ following a long vowel or double vowel (e.g., $stoel\,\rightarrow\,stoeltjie$).     * -tjie: Words ending in a vowel or diphthong (e.g., $trui\,\rightarrow\,truitjie$).     * -etjie: Words ending in $m, n, l, r$ following a short vowel (e.g., $pan\,\rightarrow\,pannetjie;\,kam\,\rightarrow\,kammetjie$).     * -pie: Words ending in $m$ following a long vowel or consonant (e.g., $boom\,\rightarrow\,boompjie$).     * -kie: Words ending in $-ing$ (e.g., $koning\,\rightarrow\,koninkie$).     * -jie: Words ending in $d, t$ (e.g., $hond\,\rightarrow\,hondjie$).

Woordorde (Word Order - STOMPI)

• Rule: Afrikaans follows a specific syntax known as the STOMPI rule:     * S (Sonder/Subject): Who is doing the action.     * V1 (Verb 1): The first verb or auxiliary verb.     * T (Tyd/Time): When it happens.     * O (Voorwerp/Object): Who/what the action is done to.     * M (Manier/Manner): How it happens.     * P (Plek/Place): Where it happens.     * V2 (Verb 2): The main verb or past participle at the end.     * I (Infinitief/Infinitive): Usually starts with $om\,te...$

Lydende en Bedrywende Vorm (Passive and Active Voice)

• Bedrywende Vorm (Active Voice): The subject performs the action.     * Structure: $S + V + O$     * Example: $Die\,kat\,vang\,die\,muis.$

• Lydende Vorm (Passive Voice): The object becomes the focus.     * Present Tense: Use $word$ and $deur$ and move verb to the end with $ge-$.         * Example: $Die\,muis\,word\,deur\,die\,kat\,gevang.$     * Past Tense: Use $is$ and $deur$ and move verb to the end with $ge-$.         * Example: $Die\,muis\,is\,deur\,die\,kat\,gevang.$     * Future Tense: Use $sal$ and $word$ at the end.         * Example: $Die\,muis\,sal\,deur\,die\,kat\,gevang\,word.$

Tye (Tenses)

• Teenwoordige tyd (Present Tense): Actions happening now.     * Example: $Ek\,leer.$

• Verlede tyd (Past Tense): Actions that have completed. Uses the auxiliary verb $het$ and the main verb gets a prefix $ge-$.     * Example: $Ek\,het\,geleer.$

• Toekomende tyd (Future Tense): Actions that will happen. Uses the auxiliary verb $sal$.     * Example: $Ek\,sal\,leer.$

Intensiewe Vorme (Intensive Forms)

• Definition: Adjectives used in a compound form to emphasize a quality. They are always written as one word.

• Examples:     * $bloedrooi$ (very red)     * $pikswart$ (pitch black)     * $potblou$ (very blue)     * $grasgroen$ (grass green)     * $murgtam$ (very tired)     * $horingoud$ (very old)     * $stokdoof$ (stone deaf)

Homofone (Homophones)

• Definition: Words that sound the same but have different spellings and different meanings.

• Examples:     * Vlei (marsh/wetland) vs. Vly (to flatter).     * Reis (to travel) vs. Rys (rice).     * Moei (to bother) vs. Mooi (pretty).     * Lui (lazy) vs. Lui (ringing/the sound of a bell).

Direkte en Indirekte Rede (Direct and Indirect Speech)

• Direkte Rede (Direct): Quoting someone exactly using quotation marks.     * Example: Piet\,sê:\,\"Ek\,is\,honger.\"

• Indirekte Rede (Indirect/Reported): Reporting what someone said without exact quotes. Uses the conjunction $dat$.     * Rules for change:         1. Remove colon and quotation marks.         2. Add $dat$.         3. Pronouns change ($ek\,\rightarrow\,hy/sy;\,ons\,\rightarrow\,hulle$).         4. Verb 1 moves to the very end.         5. Time/Place words may change ($nou\,\rightarrow\,toe;\,hier\,\rightarrow\,daar$).     * Example: $Piet\,sê\,dat\,hy\,honger\,is.$

Afkortings (Abbreviations)

• Common Abbreviations in Afrikaans:     * $Mnr.$ (Meneer / Mr.)     * $Mevr.$ (Mevrou / Mrs.)     * $Mej.$ (Mejuffrou / Miss)     * $asw.$ (asook / as well as)     * $ens.$ (ensovoorts / etcetera)     * $bv.$ (byvoorbeeld / for example)     * $reks.$ (rekening / account)     * $bl.$ (bladsy / page)

Voegwoorde (Conjunctions)

• Group 1: No change in word order. Conjunction joins two sentences. (e.g., $en, maar, want, dog, of$).     * Example: $Ek\,is\,moeg\,want\,ek\,het\,hard\,gewerk.$

• Group 2: The verb follows immediately after the conjunction. (e.g., $dan, daarna, dus, daarom, gevolglik, nogtans$).     * Example: $Dit\,reën;\,daarom\,bly\,ek\,tuis.$

• Group 3: The verb moves to the end of the sentence. (e.g., $dat, omdat, terwyl, voordat, nadat, aangesien$).     * Example: $Ek\,bly\,tuis\,omdat\,dit\,reën.$

Skryftekens (Punctuation)

• Punt (Full Stop): Ends a statement sentence.

• Komma (Comma): Used to separate items in a list or before certain conjunctions like $maar$ or $want$.

• Vraagteken (Question Mark): Ends a question.

• Uitroepteken (Exclamation Mark): Used for emphasis or commands.

• Dubbelpunt (Colon): Indicates a list or direct speech follows.

• Kommapunt (Semicolon): Separates two related independent clauses.

• Aanhalingstekens (Quotation Marks): Indicates direct speech.

• Afkappingsteken (Apostrophe): Indicates possession or missing letters (e.g., $Ma\,se\,boek$ or $'n$).

• Deelteken (Diaeresis): Shows where a new syllable starts (e.g., $reën, knieë$).

• Koppelteken (Hyphen): Joins words (e.g., $ma-hulle$) or divides words at the end of a line.