Ons rugsteun die dokument behoorlik.

Ons means we here, because it is the subject of the sentence.

A useful thing to know is that ons can also mean us in other contexts:

• Ons rugsteun die dokument. = We back up the document.
• Hulle help ons. = They help us.

So the meaning depends on its role in the sentence.

In Afrikaans, verbs usually do not change form for different subjects in the present tense.

So you get:

• Ek rugsteun = I back up
• Jy rugsteun = you back up
• Ons rugsteun = we back up
• Hulle rugsteun = they back up

This is much simpler than English, where you have a change like I back up but he backs up.

Here, rugsteun means to back up, as in making a backup copy of a file or document.

So with die dokument, the sentence means that the document is being backed up properly.

Also, rugsteun can sometimes mean support in other contexts, depending on what follows it. For example:

• Ons rugsteun die plan. = We support the plan.

But with die dokument, the computer/data meaning is the natural one.

Die is the Afrikaans definite article, meaning the.

So:

• die dokument = the document

A very useful point for learners: die does not change for gender, and it is also used with plural nouns.

Examples:

• die dokument = the document
• die dokumente = the documents

That is much simpler than languages that have different forms for masculine, feminine, neuter, or case.

Behoorlik is an adverb here, meaning something like properly, correctly, or thoroughly.

In a simple main clause like this, Afrikaans often puts the adverb after the object:

• Ons rugsteun die dokument behoorlik.

That word order feels natural and straightforward:

• subject: Ons
• verb: rugsteun
• object: die dokument
• adverb: behoorlik

So the sentence structure is quite close to English here.

Not always exactly, but it is a very good translation here.

Depending on context, behoorlik can suggest:

• properly
• correctly
• adequately
• thoroughly
• in a proper way

So in this sentence, it gives the idea that the document is being backed up in the right or careful way.

In a simple main clause, often yes. This sentence follows a pattern very similar to English:

• Ons = subject
• rugsteun = verb
• die dokument = object
• behoorlik = adverb

But Afrikaans word order changes in some other structures, especially in subordinate clauses.

For example:

• Ek weet dat ons die dokument behoorlik rugsteun.
• I know that we back up the document properly.

Notice that in the clause after dat, the verb rugsteun moves to the end. That is a very important Afrikaans pattern.

Afrikaans usually uses a double nie for negation.

So:

• Ons rugsteun die dokument behoorlik. = We back up the document properly.
• Ons rugsteun nie die dokument behoorlik nie. = We do not back up the document properly.

A simple way to think about it is:

• first nie goes after the verb
• second nie goes at the end of the clause

This double-negative pattern is one of the most noticeable features of Afrikaans grammar.

A natural past-tense version is:

• Ons het die dokument behoorlik gerugsteun.

That means We backed up the document properly or We have backed up the document properly, depending on context.

This uses:

• het = auxiliary verb
• gerugsteun = past participle

So the pattern is often:

• Ons het ... gerugsteun.

You can say:

• Ons sal die dokument behoorlik rugsteun.

This means We will back up the document properly.

Here:

• sal = will
• rugsteun stays at the end of the verbal part

So the future is quite easy to form in Afrikaans.

It is a normal Afrikaans word, although it is clearly related to English document and similar words in many European languages.

The spelling is:

• dokument

The plural is:

• dokumente = documents

So it is an easy vocabulary item for English speakers to recognize.