Language/Afrikaans/Grammar/Future-Tense

Afrikaans Grammar - Future Tense

Hi Afrikaans learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about the future tense in Afrikaans. The future tense in Afrikaans is quite simple and easy to learn. You only need to learn a few new words and understand the basic structure of sentences in the future tense. We will also provide examples and interesting cultural information. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to express yourself in the future tense like a native speaker. 😎
Let's get started!

Introduction

To form the future tense in Afrikaans, you will need to learn the auxiliary verb "sal" which means "shall" in English. We use this verb to construct the sentence in the future tense. The rest of the sentence follows the same structure as the present tense. The future tense is used to describe an action that will take place in the future.

For example: "Ek sal naweek motorsikkel ry". This means "I will ride a motorcycle this weekend."

Now, let's break down the sentence structure:

- "Ek" means "I" - "sal" means "shall" and is used as the auxiliary verb to indicate the future tense - "naweek" means "weekend" - "motorsikkel" means "motorcycle" - "ry" means "ride"

Formation of Future Tense

To form the future tense, you simply need to insert "sal" before the verb. Here's an example to illustrate:

Afrikaans	Pronunciation	English
Ek sal hardloop.	[ɛk sal ˈhɑrtlʊp]	I will run.
Jy sal sing.	[jə sal siŋ]	You will sing.
Hy sal eet.	[hɛ sɑl eɪt]	He will eat.
Sy sal baie studeer.	[sə sal ˈbɑi ˈstydər]	She will study a lot.
Dit sal reën.	[dət sal reən]	It will rain.
Ons sal dans.	[ɔns sal dans]	We will dance.
Julle sal slaap.	[ˈjʊlə sal sla:p]	You all will sleep.
Hulle sal speel.	[ˈhʊlə sal speil]	They will play.

Note that the verb remains in its infinitive form and is not conjugated.

Here's another example:

• Person 1: Wat gaan jy more doen? ([What are you doing tomorrow?])
• Person 2: Ek sal vriende besoek. ([I will visit friends.])

As you can see, you only need to insert "sal" before the main verb to make a sentence in future tense.

Irregular Future Tense

Like English, there is no real true "future tense" in Afrikaans, and the auxiliary verb "sal" is used to describe a future action. However, there is one irregular verb in Afrikaans when used in the future tense, and that is the verb "weet" (to know). When used in the future tense, the verb becomes "sal weet" (will know).

For example: "Ek sal weet hoe om te kies watter fondasie werk vir my vel." This means "I will know how to choose which foundation works for my skin."

Here's another example:

• Person 1: Gaan jy uitmet jou vriende more?
• Person 2: Ja, ek sal weet wie gaan saamkom. ([Yes, I will know who will come along.])

Usage of Future Tense

The future tense in Afrikaans is used to describe an action that will occur in the future.

For example: "Ek sal jou sien more." This means "I will see you tomorrow."

The future tense is often used when making plans or expressing future intentions.

Here's an example conversation:

• Person 1: Wat is jou planne vir die naweek? ([What are your plans for the weekend?])
• Person 2: Ek sal iewers gaan braai en dalk 'n fliek kyk. Jy? ([I will go somewhere to barbecue and maybe watch a movie. How about you?])
• Person 1: Ek sal net ontspan by die huis. ([I will just relax at home.])

As you can see, the future tense is used to express future actions and plans.

Interesting Fact

Did you know that Afrikaans has its roots in Dutch? It was developed by the Dutch settlers who arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. Over time, the language evolved and developed its own unique vocabulary and grammar rules. Today, it is one of the most widely spoken languages in South Africa and Namibia.

Summary

Congratulations, you've learned the basics of the future tense in Afrikaans! Remember, the structure of the sentence is simple and easy to learn. Just remember to use "sal" before the verb to put the sentence in the future tense.

To improve your Afrikaans Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions if you have any. 😎

Sources

• Afrikaans on Wikipedia
• Afrikaans Phonology on Wikipedia
• Dutch language on Wikipedia