Quick Summary
Lydende Vorm, also known as the passive voice in English, is an important aspect of the Afrikaans language. This blog post provides an introduction to Lydende Vorm, explains its structure and usage, offers tips on forming it correctly, and addresses common mistakes to avoid. Additionally, it includes a section of frequently asked questions to further clarify any doubts about Lydende Vorm.
Introduction
Lydende Vorm, also known as the passive voice in English, is an important grammatical concept in Afrikaans. Understanding Lydende Vorm is crucial for effective communication and proper sentence construction in this language.
In simple terms, Lydende Vorm refers to a way of structuring sentences where the subject receives or undergoes the action rather than performing it actively. This allows speakers and writers to shift their focus from who or what performs the action (the subject) to who or what experiences it (the object).
Mastering Lydende Vorm opens up opportunities for expressing ideas more precisely and adding variety to your writing style. It enables you to convey information about actions happening around someone or something without explicitly stating who performed those actions.
By learning how to use Lydende Vorm correctly, you can enhance your ability not only as a speaker but also as a listener when engaging with native Afrikaans speakers. Being able to recognize and understand sentences constructed using this form will greatly improve comprehension skills while interacting with others.
What is Lydende Vorm?
Lydende Vorm, also known as the passive voice in English, plays an important role in the Afrikaans language. It allows us to shift the focus from the subject of a sentence to its object. By understanding and using Lydende Vorm correctly, you can enhance your communication skills in Afrikaans.
In terms of structure, Lydende Vorm is formed by combining two elements: the auxiliary verb “word” (to become) and the past participle of the main verb. The auxiliary verb “word” changes according to tense or mood while remaining consistent with gender and number agreement.
Let’s take a look at some examples that illustrate how Lydende Vorm works:
1. Die boek word gelees deur my.
The book is being read by me.
2. Die huis sal gebou word deur die kontrakteurs.
The house will be built by contractors.
3. Sy het ‘n liedjie gesing op die verhoog gisteraand.
She sang a song on stage last night.
When we transform these sentences into their respective passive forms using Lydende Vorm, the focus shifts from the subject to the object of the sentence.
When to use Lydende Vorm?
Lydende Vorm, also known as the passive voice in English, is commonly used in Afrikaans to shift the focus from the subject of a sentence to its object. This grammatical construction allows for more flexibility and variation in expressing ideas. Here are some situations where using Lydende Vorm would be appropriate:
1. Emphasizing the action or process:
When you want to highlight what has been done rather than who did it, Lydende Vorm can be employed. By placing emphasis on the action itself instead of focusing on an individual or agent performing that action, you create a different tone and perspective within your sentences.
Example 1:
Active Voice: Die hond byt die man.
Translation: The dog bites (actively) at/into/on/to/in(to) [the] man.
Passive Voice/Lydende Vorm: Die man word deur die hond gebyt.
Translation: The Man gets bitten (passively)/is being bitten (by someone/something).
In this example, we see how shifting from active voice (“The dog bites”) to passive voice (“The Man gets/is being bitten”) changes our attention from emphasizing “the dog” as an actor towards highlighting “the man” receiving/bearing/passing through/experiencing something happening upon him/her/them.
2. Expressing general statements without specifying agents:
Sometimes when making general observations or stating facts about certain actions without needing specific information regarding who performed them, Lydende Vorm could come in handy.
Example 2:
Active Voice: Mense gebruik hierdie pad daagliks.
Translation: People use this road daily.
Passive Voice/Lydende Vorm: Die pad word daagliks gebruik.
Translation: This road is used daily.
Here, the speaker wants to emphasize that people generally make use of this road daily without specifying who exactly uses it.
3. Reporting events or actions:
When reporting news, describing historical events, or recounting stories where the focus is on what happened rather than who did it, Lydende Vorm can be used to convey information in a more objective manner.
Example 3:
Active Voice: Die polisie het die verdagte gearresteer.
Translation: The police arrested (actively) the suspect.
Passive Voice/Lydende Vorm: Die verdagte word deur die polisie gearresteer.
Translation: The suspect gets/is being arrested by someone/something.
In this example, the passive construction “The suspect gets/gets himself/herself/themselves arrested” shifts our attention from focusing on the active agent (“the police”) towards highlighting “the suspect” as the one experiencing an action upon him/her/themself.
These examples demonstrate how Lydende Vorm allows for flexibility and variation in sentence structure while shifting emphasis within a sentence. By understanding when to use Lydende Vorm appropriately, you can effectively communicate your ideas and express different perspectives in Afrikaans writing and speech.
How to Form Lydende Vorm?
Lydende Vorm, also known as the passive voice in English, is an important aspect of Afrikaans grammar. It allows us to shift the focus from the subject performing an action to the object receiving that action. In this section, we will explain how you can form Lydende Vorm correctly in Afrikaans.
Step 1: Identify and Understand Verb Conjugation
The first step in forming Lydende Vorm is identifying which verb conjugation pattern your main verb belongs to. There are three possible patterns:
- Pattern 1 (e.g., “ek lees” – I read): The infinitive ends with “-en.”
- Pattern 2 (e.g., “sy drink” – she drinks): The infinitive ends with a vowel.
- Pattern 3 (e.g., “hulle eet” – they eat): The infinitive ends with a consonant other than “-n.”
Understanding these patterns will help you determine how to modify your verbs when using Lydende Vorm.
Step 2: Add Auxiliary Verb ‘Word’
To form Lydende Vorm, you need to add the auxiliary verb ‘word’ before the main verb. The form of ‘word’ depends on the subject of the sentence:
- Ek (I): word
- Jy (You): word
- Hy/Sy/Dit (He/She/It): word
- Ons (We): word
- Julle (You all): word
- Hulle (They): word
For example:
- Ek word gelees. (I am being read.)
- Jy word gedrink. (You are being drunk.)
- Hy word geëet. (He is being eaten.)
Remember to conjugate ‘word’ according to the subject of the sentence.
Step 3: Modify the Main Verb
The main verb in Lydende Vorm is modified by adding the prefix ‘ge-‘ and changing the ending according to the verb conjugation pattern:
- Pattern 1: Remove the ‘-en’ ending and add ‘-e’ (e.g., lees -> gelees).
- Pattern 2: Add ‘-d’ or ‘-t’ to the verb stem (e.g., drink -> gedrink).
- Pattern 3: Add ‘-e’ to the verb stem (e.g., eet -> geëet).
For example:
- Ek word gelees. (I am being read.)
- Jy word gedrink. (You are being drunk.)
- Hy word geëet. (He is being eaten.)
Make sure to modify the main verb correctly based on its conjugation pattern.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Lydende Vorm, or the passive voice in Afrikaans, can be a tricky concept for learners. Here are some common mistakes and misconceptions related to Lydende Vorm that you should avoid:
1. Confusing active and passive voices:
One of the most common errors is mistaking an active sentence for a passive one or vice versa. Remember that in Lydende Vorm, the focus shifts from the subject performing the action to the object receiving it.
Example (Active Voice): Die hond byt die man.
Translation: The dog bites the man.
Example (Passive Voice – Lydende vorm): Die man word deur die hond gebyt.
Translation: The man is bitten by the dog.
Tip: Pay attention to whether your sentence emphasizes who performs the action or who receives it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is the difference between Lydende Vorm and the active voice?
Answer:
The main difference between Lydende Vorm (passive voice) and the active voice lies in their sentence structures. In an active voice sentence, the subject performs or carries out an action, while in a passive voice sentence using Lydende Vorm, the subject receives or undergoes an action.
For example:
Active Voice – “Die hond byt die man.” (The dog bites the man.)
Passive Voice/Lydende Vorm – “Die man word deur die hond gebyt.” (The man is bitten by the dog.)
In this case, notice how in Active Voice, ‘the dog’ is performing/doing (‘bites’) whereas with Passive Voice/Lydende Vorm it’s reversed where ‘man’ becomes the receiver of that particular verb/action (‘is bitten’).
Question 2: Can Lydende vorm be used in all tenses?
Answer:
Yes! Just like you can use different tenses with verbs when constructing sentences using Aktiewe vorm (active form), you can also apply those same rules to construct sentences utilizing Lydende vorm (passive form). The only thing that changes would be the auxiliary verb ‘word’ which will change according to the tense being utilized.
Here are some examples:
Present Tense
Aktiewe Form (Active): Die kat eet vis. (The cat eats fish)
Lydende vorm (Passive): Vis word deur die kat geëet. (Fish is eaten by the cat)
Past Tense
Aktiewe Form (Active): Hy het kos gekook. (He cooked food)
Lydende vorm (Passive): Kos was deur hom gekook. (Food was cooked by him)
Future Tense
Aktiewe Form (Active): Sy sal die huis skoonmaak. (She will clean the house)
Lydende vorm (Passive): Die huis sal deur haar geskoonmaak word. (The house will be cleaned by her)
Question 3: How can I identify Lydende Vorm in a sentence?
Answer:
To identify Lydende Vorm in a sentence, look for these key indicators:
- The auxiliary verb “word” is used before the main verb.
- The past participle form of the main verb is used after “word.”
- The subject receiving or undergoing an action comes after “word.”
For example:
Die boek word gelees deur my vriendin.
(The book is being read by my friend.)
In this sentence, we see that ‘die boek’ (the book) receives/undergoes (‘gelees’) and it follows ‘word’ which indicates passive voice.
Remember to pay attention to these clues when identifying Lydende Vorm (passive voice).
References
- https://za.pinterest.com/pin/421086633913695487/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_kg9UeS734
- https://qrlearn.com/afrikaans-blog/2017/2/14/lydende-vorm-passive-voice-in-afrikaans
