Ons wend die verflaag met die verfroller aan.

Because the full verb is aanwend, which is a separable verb in Afrikaans.

In a normal main clause, the conjugated part goes earlier in the sentence, and the separable prefix moves to the end:

• aanwend = to apply
• Ons wend ... aan = we apply ...

This is similar to separable verbs in Dutch and somewhat like English phrasal verbs, although the grammar is more regular in Afrikaans.

So:

• Ons wend die verflaag aan. = We apply the coat of paint.

If you used the infinitive, the parts usually stay together:

• Ons wil die verflaag aanwend. = We want to apply the coat of paint.

Not exactly.

In this sentence, wend is functioning as the split-off part of aanwend. The meaning apply belongs to the full verb aanwend, not just to wend alone.

So when learning this sentence, it is best to treat:

• aanwend = to apply

rather than assuming:

• wend = apply

That will help you recognize why aan must be there at the end.

Afrikaans main clauses usually put the finite verb in the second position.

Here the structure is:

• Ons = subject
• wend = finite verb
• die verflaag = direct object
• met die verfroller = prepositional phrase
• aan = separable prefix completing the verb

So the pattern is:

Subject + finite verb + rest of sentence + separable prefix

That is why the sentence does not keep aanwend together in the middle.

Verflaag is a compound noun:

• verf = paint
• laag = layer / coat

So verflaag literally means paint layer, and in natural English that is usually coat of paint or paint layer, depending on context.

Afrikaans very often forms nouns by combining words into one compound, so seeing a long single word like this is normal.

Because Afrikaans usually writes compound nouns as one word.

• verf = paint
• roller = roller

So:

• verfroller = paint roller

This is very common in Afrikaans. English sometimes writes these as two words, but Afrikaans often combines them into a single compound noun.

Because die is the normal definite article in Afrikaans, meaning the.

Afrikaans does not change the definite article for gender the way some languages do. In sentences like this, die works for both nouns:

• die verflaag = the coat of paint
• die verfroller = the paint roller

So unlike languages with masculine/feminine/neuter articles, Afrikaans keeps this part simple.

It is a prepositional phrase showing the instrument used to do the action.

• met = with
• die verfroller = the paint roller

So:

• met die verfroller = with the paint roller

It tells you how or by means of what the paint coat is being applied.

Yes. Afrikaans allows some flexibility, especially for emphasis, but the verb-second rule still applies in main clauses.

For example:

• Met die verfroller wend ons die verflaag aan.

This still means the same basic thing, but now Met die verfroller is placed first for emphasis. Because that phrase is now in first position, the finite verb wend must still come second, before ons.

So:

• first position: Met die verfroller
• second position: wend
• then subject: ons

Because the direct object and other sentence elements usually come between the verb and the separable prefix.

Afrikaans commonly does this with separable verbs:

• Ek skryf die woord neer. = I write the word down.
• Ons wend die verflaag aan. = We apply the coat of paint.

So the prefix aan normally goes at the end of the clause, not immediately after wend.

In Afrikaans, ons can mean both we and us, depending on its role in the sentence.

Here it is the subject, so it means:

• ons = we

Examples:

• Ons wend die verflaag aan. = We apply the coat of paint.
• Hy help ons. = He helps us.

So you understand the meaning from the sentence structure, not from a different form of the word.

Yes, it is understandable and grammatically correct, especially in a technical or instructional context.

It sounds a bit formal or precise because of aanwend and verflaag. In everyday speech, some speakers might choose a simpler phrasing depending on the exact context, but this sentence is perfectly good Afrikaans for describing the application of a coat of paint with a roller.