Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry, mag die aanbouing begin.

Slegs indien means only if.

• indien = if
• slegs = only

So indien ons goedkeuring kry would mean if we get approval, while slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry adds the restriction only if we get approval.

This is a fairly formal way to say it. In everyday Afrikaans, many speakers would also use net as or simply as in less formal contexts, depending on tone and region.

indien means if. It is correct and quite common in written or formal Afrikaans, especially in official, legal, or administrative language.

In casual speech, Afrikaans speakers often prefer as:

• As ons goedkeuring kry, ... = If we get approval, ...

So indien is not wrong or strange, but it can sound a bit more formal than everyday conversation.

Because indien introduces a subordinate clause, and in Afrikaans subordinate clauses the verb often moves toward the end.

So:

• main-clause style: Ons kry goedkeuring.
• subordinate-clause style: indien ons goedkeuring kry

This is a very important Afrikaans word-order pattern:

• Ek weet dat hy kom.
• As ons tyd het, gaan ons.
• Indien ons goedkeuring kry, ...

A native English speaker often expects the verb earlier, but Afrikaans frequently places it later in clauses introduced by words like dat, as, wanneer, omdat, indien, and so on.

Because the sentence starts with another element first: Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry. In Afrikaans main clauses, the finite verb normally comes in the second position.

That means after the opening clause, the verb mag must come before the subject:

• Die aanbouing mag begin.
• Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry, mag die aanbouing begin.

This is a standard Afrikaans pattern often called verb-second word order in main clauses.

So the structure is roughly:

1. first element: Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry
2. finite verb: mag
3. subject: die aanbouing
4. rest: begin

Here mag means something like may or is allowed to.

So mag die aanbouing begin means:

• the extension may begin
• the extension is allowed to begin

It expresses permission, not ability.

Compare:

• kan = can, be able to
• mag = may, be permitted to

So this sentence is about authorization or permission, which fits well with goedkeuring (approval).

Yes. goedkeuring kry is a very normal and idiomatic way to say get approval or receive approval.

You could also see:

• goedkeuring ontvang = receive approval
  This is a bit more formal.
• goedgekeur word = be approved

Examples:

• Ons moet eers goedkeuring kry.
• Die plan het goedkeuring ontvang.
• Die projek is goedgekeur.

So goedkeuring kry is natural and common.

Because goedkeuring here is being used in a general, uncountable sense: approval.

Afrikaans often leaves out the article when talking about something abstract or indefinite in a general way.

So:

• ons kry goedkeuring = we get approval
• ons kry die goedkeuring = we get the approval

The second version would suggest a specific approval already known in the context. In this sentence, the meaning is more general: approval must be obtained first.

Aanbouing usually refers to an extension, addition, or extra built-on part of a building.

It comes from the idea of building onto something already there. So in context, it likely means a building extension, not just any kind of beginning or construction in general.

Depending on context, English might translate it as:

• extension
• addition
• annex
• built-on section

The comma separates the introductory subordinate clause from the main clause.

Structure:

• subordinate clause: Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry
• main clause: mag die aanbouing begin

This kind of comma is very common in Afrikaans when a dependent clause comes before the main clause.

It helps the reader see where the first clause ends and where the main statement begins.

Yes. You could say:

Die aanbouing mag slegs begin indien ons goedkeuring kry.

That is also correct. The meaning is essentially the same.

The difference is emphasis:

• Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry, mag die aanbouing begin.
  This strongly foregrounds the condition.
• Die aanbouing mag slegs begin indien ons goedkeuring kry.
  This starts with the main topic, the extension.

Both are good Afrikaans.

Yes, usually. Slegs often sounds more formal, official, or written. Net is more common in everyday speech.

Compare:

• Slegs indien ons goedkeuring kry, mag die aanbouing begin.
  More formal, official, written style.
• Net as ons goedkeuring kry, mag die aanbouing begin.
  More conversational, though wording may vary by speaker.

So if this sentence comes from a notice, contract, policy, or official communication, slegs makes perfect sense.

A useful breakdown is:

Slegs indien | ons | goedkeuring | kry, | mag | die aanbouing | begin

And the grammar is:

1. Slegs indien = subordinating expression meaning only if
2. ons goedkeuring kry = subordinate clause, with the verb at the end
3. mag = finite verb of the main clause
4. die aanbouing = subject of the main clause
5. begin = main verb in infinitive form after the modal mag

So the sentence combines two very important Afrikaans patterns:

• subordinate clause verb-final tendency: ons goedkeuring kry
• main clause verb-second order: mag die aanbouing begin