Ons reageer op die oortredingskennisgewing.

We respond to the infringement notice.

Breakdown of Ons reageer op die oortredingskennisgewing.

• ons: we
• op: on
• die oortredingskennisgewing: infringement notice
• reageer: to react; respond

Questions & Answers about Ons reageer op die oortredingskennisgewing.

What does Ons mean here?

It means we.

Afrikaans ons can mean we or us depending on its role in the sentence. Here it is the subject of the verb reageer, so it means we.

Why is the verb reageer the same for we? Shouldn’t it change like English respond/responds?

Usually, no. In Afrikaans, verbs normally do not change according to the subject.

So you get:

• Ek reageer — I respond
• Jy reageer — you respond
• Ons reageer — we respond
• Hulle reageer — they respond

That is one of the nice simplifications of Afrikaans compared with English.

Does Ons reageer mean we respond or we are responding?

It can mean either one.

Afrikaans often uses the simple present where English might use either:

• we respond
• we are responding

Context tells you which is meant. If you want to make right now clearer, you can add a word like nou:

• Ons reageer nou op die oortredingskennisgewing. — We are responding to the notice now.