Ons kombineer die magneet met die sleutel.

It follows the normal Afrikaans main-clause pattern:

• Ons = subject
• kombineer = verb
• die magneet = direct object
• met die sleutel = prepositional phrase

So the structure is basically Subject + Verb + Object + Prepositional phrase, which is very similar to English here.

Ons means we in this sentence.

A useful thing to know is that ons can also mean our in other contexts, but not here. In this sentence it is clearly the subject pronoun:

• Ons kombineer ... = We combine ...

In Afrikaans, verbs usually do not change according to the subject in the present tense.

So you get:

• Ek kombineer = I combine
• Jy kombineer = you combine
• Ons kombineer = we combine
• Hulle kombineer = they combine

This is much simpler than English, where you have forms like I combine but he combines.

Die is the definite article, meaning the.

Afrikaans uses die for:

• singular nouns
• plural nouns
• all genders

So unlike languages such as German or French, you do not need to learn different forms for masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns.

Here:

• die magneet = the magnet
• die sleutel = the key

No. Afrikaans does not have grammatical gender in the way many European languages do.

That means:

• magneet is not masculine or feminine for grammar purposes
• sleutel is not masculine or feminine either
• the article stays die

This makes article use much easier for learners.

Met means with.

It introduces the phrase met die sleutel, which tells you what the magnet is being combined with.

So:

• die magneet = the magnet
• met die sleutel = with the key

Yes. You can also say:

• Ons kombineer die sleutel met die magneet.

That is still grammatical and means almost the same thing. The difference is mainly one of focus:

• Ons kombineer die magneet met die sleutel puts the magnet first as the main object.
• Ons kombineer die sleutel met die magneet puts the key first as the main object.

In Afrikaans, the verb form you see here is also the normal dictionary form, so it can feel like both.

• kombineer = combine / to combine, depending on context

In a simple present-tense sentence:

• Ons kombineer ... = We combine ...

After another verb, it can appear at the end:

• Ons wil die magneet met die sleutel kombineer.
• We want to combine the magnet with the key.

Afrikaans uses ’n for a / an.

So:

• ’n magneet = a magnet
• ’n sleutel = a key

Example:

• Ons kombineer ’n magneet met ’n sleutel.

Also note:

• ’n is written with an apostrophe
• it is never capitalized, even at the start of a sentence in normal spelling conventions

A rough guide:

• magneet ≈ mag-NEET
• sleutel ≈ SLAY-tul or SLOY-tul, depending on accent

A few helpful notes:

• ee in magneet is a long vowel
• eu in sleutel is a vowel sound English speakers often need practice with
• the g in Afrikaans is usually much harsher than in English, but there is no g in sleutel

Afrikaans usually uses a double negative:

• Ons kombineer nie die magneet met die sleutel nie.

So you place:

• one nie after the verb phrase area
• another nie at the end of the clause

This double nie ... nie pattern is one of the most important things to learn in Afrikaans.

Yes, it is grammatical and understandable Afrikaans.

A speaker might also choose a different verb depending on context, such as one meaning join, attach, or put together, but kombineer is perfectly understandable and works well, especially in a general sense of combine.