Vergelyk die instaptyd met die vertrektyd.

It is an imperative sentence, meaning it gives a command or instruction.

In Afrikaans, commands often begin directly with the verb, so:

• Vergelyk = Compare

There is no separate word for you here, but it is understood:

• (You) compare the boarding time with the departure time.

Because this is a command. In Afrikaans, the verb usually comes first in an imperative sentence.

So the structure is:

• Vergelyk = verb
• die instaptyd = the boarding time
• met die vertrektyd = with the departure time

This is very normal in Afrikaans instructions, especially in signs, notices, forms, and travel-related language.

Vergelyk means compare.

Here it is being used in the imperative, but the form looks the same as the basic dictionary form of the verb. Afrikaans verbs usually do not change form the way English verbs sometimes do.

For example:

• Ek vergelyk = I compare
• Jy vergelyk = you compare
• Vergelyk! = Compare!

So the same verb form is used in several contexts.

Because both nouns are definite:

• die instaptyd = the boarding time
• die vertrektyd = the departure time

Afrikaans uses die as the definite article for basically all nouns, regardless of gender. Unlike languages such as German or French, Afrikaans does not have different forms like the masculine, the feminine, etc.

So repeating die before each noun is completely normal.

Yes, they are single words, and this is very typical in Afrikaans.

Afrikaans often forms compound nouns by joining words together:

• instap + tyd → instaptyd
• vertrek + tyd → vertrektyd

This is similar to how English sometimes forms compounds like bedroom, airline, or timetable, although Afrikaans does this even more regularly.

So:

• instaptyd = boarding time
• vertrektyd = departure time

They refer to two different moments in travel:

• instaptyd = the time when passengers may begin boarding
• vertrektyd = the time when the vehicle actually leaves

So in an airport or train context, instaptyd happens first, and vertrektyd happens later.

Met means with.

The verb vergelyk commonly goes with met when you compare one thing with another:

• Vergelyk X met Y = Compare X with Y

So:

• Vergelyk die instaptyd met die vertrektyd
  = Compare the boarding time with the departure time.

This is the normal Afrikaans pattern.

In natural English, we sometimes say compare X to Y or compare X with Y, but Afrikaans here uses met, which directly corresponds to with.

So if you are learning the Afrikaans structure, it is best to remember:

• vergelyk ... met ...

Even if the English translation shown to the learner uses to, the Afrikaans preposition here is still met.

Because Afrikaans imperatives often leave the subject unstated, just like English commands do.

Compare:

• English: Compare the times.
• Afrikaans: Vergelyk die tye.

In both languages, you is understood rather than spoken.

No, not in any way that changes the words here.

One reason this sentence is fairly straightforward is that Afrikaans grammar is simpler than that of some related languages:

• die stays die
• the nouns do not change form because of case
• the verb vergelyk does not change form for person

So the sentence remains neat and compact.

A rough English-style pronunciation guide could be:

• Vergelyk ≈ fer-khuh-LAKE
• die ≈ dee
• instaptyd ≈ IN-stahp-tate
• met ≈ met
• die ≈ dee
• vertrektyd ≈ fer-TREK-tate

A few notes:

• The g in Afrikaans is usually a rough throat sound, not a soft English g.
• y in tyd sounds like ei/ay to English ears.
• Stress often falls strongly in words like vergelyk and vertrektyd.

This is only an approximation, but it can help you get started.

Yes, but this version is very natural for an instruction.

For example, you might also see more formal or expanded versions such as:

• U moet die instaptyd met die vertrektyd vergelyk.
  = You must compare the boarding time with the departure time.

But the original sentence is shorter and more typical for directions, notices, or tasks:

• Vergelyk die instaptyd met die vertrektyd.

So the original is probably the most natural choice in an instructional context.