The Focus of This Lesson is Mastering Word Order

Party meisies hou nie daarvan nie.
"Some girls don't like it."

In this lesson, we will:

1. Learn the word order in Afrikaans called STOMPI
2. Examples and analyzing STOMPI

1.Learn the word order in Afrikaans called STOMPI

STOMPI is used as a template for the word order of sentences:

Subject

Verb 1

Time

Object

Manner

Place

Verb 2

Infinitive

Please note that the verbs are not part of the acronym. A more accurate acronym would be S_v1TOMP_v2I. You need at least a subject and a verb in a sentence.

1. Hy loop.
   "He walks."

Sample Sentences

1. Sy loop vinning in die straat.
   "She is walking quickly down the street."

• S - sy
• v1 - loop
• M - vinnig
• P -in die straat

1. Hy kyk elke dag 'n rugby wedstryd.
   "He watches a rugby game every day."

• S - Hy
• v1 - Kyk
• T - elke dag
• O - 'n rugby
• v2 - wedstryd

1. Ons hou van braai op 'n Sondag
   "We like to have a barbecue on a Sunday."

• S - Ons
• v1 - hou van
• O - braai
• T -op n Sondag

2. Examples and Analyzing STOMPI

• S - Die meisie
• v1 - het
• T - gister
• O - haar werk
• M - netjies
• P - in haar boek
• v2 - geskryf

1. Die meisie het gister haar werk netjies in haar boek geskryf.
   "The girl wrote her work neatly in her book yesterday."

If it is a double negative, you need to add the double 'nie.'

1. Dit is nie my boek nie.
   "This is not my book."

• Notes: You would add the 'nie' after the first verb and at the end of the sentence.

S v1 T O M P v2

1. Sy gaan more haar blomme in die tuin plant.
   "She is going to plant her flowers in the garden tomorrow."

S_v1nieTOMP_v2Inie

1. Sy gaan nie more haar blomme in die tuin plant nie.
   "She is not going to plant her flowers tomorrow."

S v1 T O M P v2

1. Ek gaan more by my ouma kuier.
   "I am going to visit my grandmother tomorrow."

S_v1nieTOMP_v2Inie

1. Ek gaan nie more by my ouma kuier nie.
   "I am not going to visit my grandmother tomorrow."

NOTE: Not every sentence has two verbs or infinitives at the end. Every sentence should have a subject and a verb, at least.

You can practice by making your own sentences and analyzing them. It is hard in the beginning, but as soon as you start remembering the verb after the subject and the time after the verb you will be on your way!

1. Ek hoop jy het 'n lekker dag!
   "I hope you have a good day!"

Examples from the Dialogue

1. As jy nie daarvan hou nie, sal ek ophou.
   "If you don't like it, I will stop."
2. Ek wou net seker maak.
   "I just wanted to check."

Sample Sentences

1. Hy draf elke dag op die strand.
   "He jogs on the beach every day."
2. Hulle eet elke dag 'n gesonde ontbyt.
   "They eat a healthy breakfast every day."
3. Ons sal by die ete wees more.
   "We will be at the lunch tomorrow."

goeie maniere
"good manners"

goeie/goed means "good." Maniere means "manners."
You would use this phrase to compliment someone in any context, formal or informal. Men and women can say it to each other, but it is used in reference to children many times.

For example:

1. Hulle kinders het nie maniere nie.
   "Their children don't have any manners."

dames eerste
"ladies first"

Dames means "ladies," and eerste means "first." Together they mean more than just ladies first, but it implies a certain set of etiquette.
Men would say this when opening a door for a lady and then allowing her to walk first. Some ladies might not want you to do that, but that is a rare occasion.

For example:

1. Dames eerste, ek sal wag.
   "Ladies first, I'll wait."

Manners

Many Afrikaans men in South Africa would allow a woman to walk in front of them through a door. It is very nice to observe this etiquette. As a woman, you can just say thank you as you walk past.

You will also find people praying over their food in public, taking hands and bowing their heads. It is not that common but it is nice to see.

Useful expression

1. Loop jy eerste.
   "You walk first"