Godsdiens is belangrik.

Religion is important.

Breakdown of Godsdiens is belangrik.

• wees: to be
• belangrik: important
• die godsdiens: religion

Questions & Answers about Godsdiens is belangrik.

Why is there no word for the or a in Godsdiens is belangrik?

Afrikaans often leaves out the article when speaking about something in general, especially with abstract ideas.

So Godsdiens is belangrik means religion is important in a general sense.

Compare:

• Godsdiens is belangrik. = religion is important.
• Die godsdiens is belangrik. = the religion is important / religion is important in a more specific context.

Afrikaans does have articles:

• die = the
• 'n = a/an

But they are not always used where English would use one.

What does is do here?

Is is the present-tense form of the verb wees meaning to be.

So it works just like English is in this sentence:

• Godsdiens is belangrik.
• subject + verb + complement

Other forms of wees include:

• is = is
• was = was
• sal wees = will be

Why is the word order so similar to English?