met/saam/saam met mekaar
I always get confused when trying to say "with" in Afrikaans. Just when I think I see a pattern, I am wrong. Is there a grammatical rule that makes learning this any easier?

Some example sentences that I am randomly guessing which one to use:

Ek gaan saam met my vriende ontbyt eet.
Ek wil met jou Afrikaans praat.
Ons gaan saam met mekaar die fliek toe.
Ek geniet koffie met melk.

Dankie!

Question

met/saam/saam met mekaar
I always get confused when trying to say "with" in Afrikaans. Just when I think I see a pattern, I am wrong. Is there a grammatical rule that makes learning this any easier?

Some example sentences that I am randomly guessing which one to use:

Ek gaan saam met my vriende ontbyt eet. 
Ek wil met jou Afrikaans praat. 
Ons gaan saam met mekaar die fliek toe. 
Ek geniet koffie met melk.

Dankie!

Answer

"saam" means "together", so you use "saam met" when you do something together with someone or if you things are physically together.  Some examples:

Ons kyk saam TV
- We're watching TV together

Wil jy saam kom/gaan?
- Would you like to come/go along?

Moenie die pienk hemp saam met die wit sokkies was nie
- Don't wash the pink shirt (together) with the white socks

"met" on its own is mostly use like "with" in English.  It usually indicates that something is done with something else, or in aid of something, for example:

Ek slaan die spyker met die hammer
 - i hit the nail with the hammer

Ek werk met wilde diere
 - I work with wild animals

Help my asseblief met my wiskunde
 - Please help me with my maths

Koffie met melk en suiker
 - Coffee with milk and sugar

One odd one out is this:

Trou met my!
 - Marry me!

I hope this helps!

Answer

Well I also did get confused when I heard one using the word 'saam en met'...