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    Interrogative pronouns: subject and object
    quickinfo

    The basic interrogative pronouns are wat what, used to ask about inanimate objects (1a) and sometimes animals, and wie who, used to ask about people (1b).

    Example 1

    a. Wat is die mens?
    what be.PRS the human
    What is humanity?
    VivA-KPO
    b. Wie is hulle?
    who be.PRS they
    Who are they?
    VivA-KPO
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    The interrogative pronoun wat what is typically used to ask about inanimate objects, and can function as both the subject (2a) and the object (2b) of a sentence.

    Example 2

    a. Wat gaan fout?
    what go mistake
    What goes wrong?
    VivA-KPO
    b. Maar wat het hulle gedoen?
    but what have.AUX they do.PST
    But what did they do?
    VivA-KPO

    The interrogative pronoun wie who, on the other hand, is used to inquire about people, and can also function as the subject (3a) and the object (3b) of a sentence.

    Example 3

    a. Wie sal bo uitkom?
    who will above out.come
    Who will.AUX.MOD come out on top?
    VivA-KPO
    b. Wie vrees hulle en vir wie vlug hulle?
    who fear they and for who flee they
    Who do they fear and from who are they fleeing?
    VivA-KPO, adapted

    Both of these interrogative pronouns can be modified or specified – premodified (4a-b) as well as postmodified (4c-d).

    Example 4

    a. Maar presies wat het gebeur?
    but exactly what have.AUX happen.PST
    But exactly what happened?
    VivA-KPO
    b. Maar presies wie was hierdie mense?
    but exactly who be.PrT these people
    But exactly who were these people?
    VivA-KPO
    c. Mmmm nou wat presies is die rede hiervoor?
    hmmm now what exactly be.PRS the reason PN.for
    Hmmm now what exactly is the reason for this?
    VivA-KPO
    d. Wie presies soek julle?
    who exactly search you.PL
    Who exactly are you looking for?
    VivA-KPO
    References:
      ABOUT THIS TOPIC
      Author(s):
      Johanita Kirsten; Adri Breed
      Category:
      Afrikaans Syntax
      Publication date:
      14 May 2020
      Keywords:
      interrogative pronounsubjectobject
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