Ons besluit of klimaatbeheer nodig is al dan nie.

We decide whether climate control is necessary or not.

Breakdown of Ons besluit of klimaatbeheer nodig is al dan nie.

• ons: we
• wees: to be
• nodig: necessary
• besluit: to decide

Questions & Answers about Ons besluit of klimaatbeheer nodig is al dan nie.

What does of mean in this sentence?

Here of means whether, not or.

So Ons besluit of klimaatbeheer nodig is al dan nie means We decide whether climate control is necessary or not.

This is a very common use of of in Afrikaans:

• Ek weet nie of hy kom nie. = I don’t know whether he is coming.
• Hulle vra of dit waar is. = They ask whether it is true.

Why is it nodig is and not is nodig?

Because this part of the sentence is a subordinate clause introduced by of.

In main clauses, Afrikaans usually keeps the finite verb in second position:

• Klimaatbeheer is nodig. = Climate control is necessary.

But after a word like of, the verb usually moves toward the end:

• ... of klimaatbeheer nodig is = ... whether climate control is necessary

So:

• main clause: Dit is nodig
• subordinate clause: ... dat/of dit nodig is

This is one of the most important word-order patterns in Afrikaans.

What does al dan nie mean?