positiewe

Positiewe is a term used in Dutch and Afrikaans to describe the inflected form of the adjective positive when it accompanies plural nouns. It serves to indicate that the noun it modifies has a positive quality or value.

Etymology and orthography: The root is the adjective positive, which in Dutch and Afrikaans has developed forms such as positief and positiewe. In both languages, the ending -e is used before plural nouns in definite contexts, so a phrase like de positieve cijfers or die positiewe getalle expresses the idea of “the positive numbers” or “the positive figures.”

Usage: In everyday language, positiewe is employed to qualify a wide range of plural nouns, including numbers, outcomes, qualities, and indicators. Dutch examples include de positieve resultaten (the positive results) and de positieve cijfers (the positive figures). In Afrikaans, phrases such as die positiewe getalle (the positive numbers) and die positiewe uitkomste (the positive outcomes) are common. The form is used across contexts to contrast with negativ e or other qualifiers.

Mathematics and science: A frequent technical usage is in mathematics to denote numbers greater than zero, referred to as positiewe getalle in Afrikaans and de positieve getallen in Dutch. Beyond math, positiewe describes favorable or advantageous properties in data, research findings, and evaluations.

See also: Negatief (negative), Nul (zero), Getal (number), Uitkoms (outcome), Resultaat (result).