Ons wend die onderlaag egalig aan.

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

In a normal main clause, the conjugated part goes into the usual verb position, and the particle aan moves to the end:

• aanwend = to apply / to use
• Ons wend ... aan = We apply ...

This is very common in both Afrikaans and Dutch-style grammar patterns.

Compare:

• Ek wend dit aan. = I apply it.
• Ons wend die onderlaag aan. = We apply the undercoat.

In infinitive form or after certain auxiliaries, it usually stays together:

• om die onderlaag aan te wend = to apply the undercoat
• Ons het die onderlaag aangewend. = We applied the undercoat.

That happens because this is a main clause with a separable verb.

Afrikaans main-clause word order often puts:

1. the subject first,
2. the finite verb second,
3. the rest of the sentence,
4. and then the separable particle at the end.

So in:

• Ons = subject
• wend = finite verb
• die onderlaag = object
• egalig = adverb
• aan = separable particle

That gives:

Ons wend die onderlaag egalig aan.

For English speakers, it can feel unusual because English keeps apply together as one word.

Here, ons means we.

Afrikaans uses ons for both:

• we
• us

So the form does not change, but the function does.

Examples:

• Ons wend die onderlaag aan. = We apply the undercoat.
• Hy help ons. = He helps us.

You work out the meaning from the sentence structure.

Die means the.

Unlike languages such as German or Dutch, Afrikaans does not change the definite article for grammatical gender. So die is used for singular and plural nouns in most ordinary cases.

Examples:

• die onderlaag = the undercoat
• die muur = the wall
• die lae = the layers

So you do not need to memorize masculine, feminine, or neuter article forms here.

Onderlaag literally means something like under-layer.

In context, it usually means:

• undercoat
• base coat
• primer layer

It is especially common in painting, coatings, and finishing contexts.

The word is built from:

• onder = under
• laag = layer

So it is a very transparent compound word once you know the parts.

Afrikaans usually does not form adverbs with a special ending like English -ly.

So where English says:

• even / evenly

Afrikaans often uses one form such as:

• egalig = even / evenly

In this sentence, egalig describes how the undercoat is applied, so it functions adverbially:

• Ons wend die onderlaag egalig aan. = We apply the undercoat evenly.

This is very normal in Afrikaans: adjectives often also serve as adverbs without changing form.

It is in the present tense.

Ons wend ... aan can mean:

• We apply ...
• We are applying ...

depending on context.

Afrikaans does not always distinguish as sharply as English between simple present and present continuous in basic verb forms. If the context is instructional, this sentence often has a procedural meaning, like:

• We apply the undercoat evenly.

That is typical in instructions, manuals, demonstrations, or process descriptions.

That is a normal and natural word order in Afrikaans.

In this sentence, the usual order is:

• subject: Ons
• finite verb: wend
• direct object: die onderlaag
• adverb: egalig
• separable particle: aan

So:

Ons wend die onderlaag egalig aan.

You may sometimes see variation for emphasis, but this version is very standard and neutral.

The dictionary form is aanwend.

In the sentence, wend is just the conjugated part that appears when the separable verb is split.

So:

• dictionary form: aanwend
• present tense with ons: wend ... aan

Other forms include:

• om aan te wend = to apply
• aangewend = applied

So if you look it up in a dictionary, search for aanwend, not just wend.

Yes. Depending on the context, Afrikaans speakers might also use verbs such as:

• aanbring = apply / put on
• opsit = put on
• verf = paint

For example:

• Ons bring die onderlaag egalig aan.
• Ons wend die onderlaag egalig aan.

Both are possible, though aanbring is often especially common in practical instructions about paint, coatings, glue, or similar materials.

Still, aanwend is correct and natural, especially in slightly more formal or technical wording.

In the past tense, Afrikaans commonly uses het plus the past participle.

With aanwend, the participle is aangewend:

• Ons het die onderlaag egalig aangewend.

Notice that the verb is no longer split in the same way as in the present-tense main clause.

Compare:

• Present: Ons wend die onderlaag egalig aan.
• Past: Ons het die onderlaag egalig aangewend.

That contrast helps many learners see how separable verbs behave in different structures.