Example 29-183

Die seun is deur 'n by gesteek.
Die
def.art
seun
boy
is
is
deur
by
'n
a
by
bee
ge-steek.
ptcp-stung
The boy was stung by a bee.
Comment:
Is denotes the passive past tense, with was ('was') denoting a more distant past - e.g. Hy is gister deur 'n by gesteek [3SG.M.NOM is yesterday by a bee stung] 'He was stung by a bee yesterday' vs. Hy was jare gelede deur 'n by gesteek [3SG.M.NOM was by a bee stung] 'He had been stung by a bee'. Because the adverbial clearly specifies the nature of the past reference, is is also possible in the latter case. See Donaldson (1993: 257–261) for discussion.
Type:
naturalistic written
Source:
Own knowledge