Afrikaans word order differs from English and is one of the more tricky parts of Afrikaans grammar (for English speakers), and this is a basic outline with more details being found in the appropriate sections such as Common Verbs, Negations and Questions.
Simple sentences have the same Subject, Verb, Object structure as in English. I.e. the order is the same and can be matched word for word (or almost word for word).
| I see the dog | Ek sien die hond |
| The man is great | Die man is goed |
| There are three bedrooms | Daar is drie slaapkamers |
| It was late at night | Dit was laat in die nag |
| I am sorry | Ek is jammer |
| He was tired | Hy was moeg |
| Where are you? | Waar is jy? |
Compound sentences are longer sentences often with a verb particle such as het or sal (see verbs) or an infinitive.
In this type of (simple) compound sentence the verb is placed at the end.
| I did it myself | Ek het dit self gedoen |
| I can speak Afrikaans | Ek kan Afrikaans praat |
Afrikaans almost always uses a double negative nie ... nie (apart from in short sentences).
The second of these 'nots' is always positioned at the end of the sentence.
| I am not hungry not | Ek is nie honger nie |
| I don't speak Afrikaans | Ek praat nie Afrikaans nie |
There are many more examples of word order of negated sentences here.
Simple questions using 'question' words often use a similar (or even identical) sentence structure to the English.
| When does the last bus leave? | Wanneer loop die volgende bus? |
| What is your name? | Wat is jou naam? |
Questions can also be formed with inversion.
| I am going home | Ek gaan huis toe |
| Are you going home? | Gaan jy huis toe? |
| I am married | Ek is getroud |
| Are you married? | Is jy getroud? |