Here are some common Afrikaans adjectives used 'predicatively'.
These are illustrated with some simple sentences (also to help with vocabulary building).
| The man is happy | Die man is gelukkig |
| The car is quick | Die kar is vinnig |
| The girl is pretty | Die meisie is mooi |
| The dog is noisy | Die hond is raserig |
| The house is tall | Die huis is hoog |
| The table is big | Die tafel is groot |
| The cup is small | Die koppie is klein |
| The dog is bad | Die hond is stout |
| I am tall | Ek is lank |
| He is short | Hy is kort |
| The hat is green | Die hoed is groen |
Adjectives are describing words. The happy man. The noisy dog.
They can be used attributively or predicatively (when they follow the noun):
Predicative adjectives follow the noun, and as in English this means after the verb to be which in Afrikaans is normally is, was or sal.
The man is happy.
The dog is noisy.
When an adjective comes before the noun it is describing, it is said to be used attributively.
An adjective may change its form when used attributively, according to a complex set of rules.
But quite often an e is added. So look out for the adjective which add an e and listen out for other changes.
| The quick car | Die vinnige kar |
| The small cup | Die klein koppie |
| The bad dog | Die stoute hond |
| The good man | Die goeie man |
| The tall woman | Die lang vrou |
| The green hat | Die groen hoed |