Pick a language and start learning!

Verbs in passive voice Exercises in Afrikaans language

Student reading a Spanish language book at an oak table.

Verbs in the passive voice play a crucial role in the Afrikaans language, allowing speakers to emphasize the action being performed rather than the subject performing it. This grammatical structure is particularly useful in various contexts, from formal writing to everyday conversation. By transforming the sentence structure, the passive voice can add variety and nuance to your language use, making your communication more effective and versatile. For instance, the sentence "Die man lees die boek" (The man reads the book) can be changed to "Die boek word deur die man gelees" (The book is read by the man), shifting the focus to the book rather than the man. Understanding and mastering the passive voice in Afrikaans involves grasping the rules and nuances of verb conjugation and sentence construction. This set of grammar exercises is designed to guide you through these intricacies, offering clear explanations and practical examples. Whether you're a beginner looking to build a solid foundation or an advanced learner aiming to refine your skills, these exercises will help you develop a deeper understanding of how the passive voice operates in Afrikaans. Dive in and enhance your command of this essential grammatical concept, making your Afrikaans more expressive and precise.

Exercise 1

1. Die brief *word* deur die seun geskryf (verb for being written). 2. Die huis *is* deur die bouers gebou (verb for being constructed). 3. Die boek *sal* deur die student gelees word (verb for future reading). 4. Die kos *is* deur die sjef voorberei (verb for being prepared). 5. Die bal *is* deur die kind gegooi (verb for being thrown). 6. Die liedjie *word* deur die sanger gesing (verb for being sung). 7. Die toets *sal* deur die leerders geskryf word (verb for future writing). 8. Die skildery *is* deur die kunstenaar geskilder (verb for being painted). 9. Die probleem *word* deur die span opgelos (verb for being solved). 10. Die kamer *is* deur die skoonmaker skoongemaak (verb for being cleaned).

Exercise 2

1. Die boek is *gelees* deur die student. (verb for reading) 2. Die brief is *gestuur* na die kantoor. (verb for sending) 3. Die huis is *gebou* deur die bouer. (verb for constructing) 4. Die motor is *gerepareer* deur die werktuigkundige. (verb for fixing) 5. Die prentjie is *geteken* deur die kunstenaar. (verb for drawing) 6. Die kos is *gekook* deur die sjef. (verb for cooking) 7. Die klere is *gewas* deur die huishulp. (verb for washing) 8. Die blomme is *geplant* in die tuin. (verb for planting) 9. Die liedjie is *gesing* deur die sanger. (verb for singing) 10. Die rekenaar is *geskakel* deur die tegnikus. (verb for turning on)

Exercise 3

1. Die boek *is* deur die skrywer geskryf (to be in present tense). 2. Die huis *word* deur die bouers gebou (to be in present tense). 3. Die kos *sal* deur die sjef voorberei word (future tense of "will"). 4. Die brief *was* deur die posman afgelewer (past tense of "to be"). 5. Die blomme *word* deur die tuinier geplant (to be in present tense). 6. Die hond *is* deur die veearts ondersoek (to be in present tense). 7. Die rekenaar *sal* deur die tegnikus herstel word (future tense of "will"). 8. Die venster *is* deur die kind gebreek (to be in present tense). 9. Die liedjie *is* deur die sanger gesing (to be in present tense). 10. Die klere *word* deur die wasmasjien gewas (to be in present tense).