Ons geniet die optrede.

We enjoy the performance.

Breakdown of Ons geniet die optrede.

• ons: we
• geniet: to enjoy
• die optrede: the performance

Questions & Answers about Ons geniet die optrede.

What does ons mean here? Can it also mean us or our?

Yes. Ons is a very common Afrikaans word that can mean:

• we
• us
• our

The function depends on the sentence.

In Ons geniet die optrede, ons is the subject, so it means we.

Examples:

• Ons kom nou. = We are coming now.
• Hy sien ons. = He sees us.
• Ons huis is groot. = Our house is big.

So Afrikaans uses the same form in places where English uses different words.

Why is the verb geniet not changed to match ons?

Because Afrikaans verbs usually do not change for person in the present tense the way English verbs sometimes do.

Compare:

• Ek geniet = I enjoy
• Jy geniet = you enjoy
• Ons geniet = we enjoy
• Hulle geniet = they enjoy

The verb stays geniet.

This is one of the things many English speakers find nice about Afrikaans grammar: there is much less verb conjugation than in English.

What does die mean here?