Die tandplaak veroorsaak tandbederf.

Here die means the.

A few useful things to know about die in Afrikaans:

• It is the normal definite article
• It is used for singular and plural nouns
• Afrikaans does not have separate forms like English the vs. something gendered

So Die tandplaak = The dental plaque / The plaque.

In Afrikaans, die is pronounced roughly like dee, not like the English word die.

That is a very common beginner mistake. In Afrikaans, ie usually sounds like English ee.

Because Afrikaans very often forms compound nouns by joining words together.

So:

• tand = tooth
• plaak = plaque
• tandplaak = tooth plaque / dental plaque

And:

• tand = tooth
• bederf = decay, spoilage, damage
• tandbederf = tooth decay

This is very normal in Afrikaans. English sometimes writes similar ideas as two words, but Afrikaans often prefers one compound word.

Because tandbederf is being used in a general sense, like English tooth decay.

Compare the English meaning:

• The plaque causes tooth decay → general statement
• The plaque causes the tooth decay → refers to specific tooth decay already known in the conversation

So in Afrikaans:

• Die tandplaak veroorsaak tandbederf. = general fact
• Die tandplaak veroorsaak die tandbederf. = would suggest a specific, already identified case of tooth decay

No. In Afrikaans, verbs usually do not change according to the subject in the present tense.

So you get:

• Ek veroorsaak
• Jy veroorsaak
• Hy veroorsaak
• Ons veroorsaak
• Hulle veroorsaak

The verb stays veroorsaak each time.

That is why Afrikaans does not need a special form like English causes for he/she/it.

This sentence has the basic subject–verb–object order:

• Die tandplaak = subject
• veroorsaak = verb
• tandbederf = object

So the pattern is:

The plaque + causes + tooth decay

This is the most straightforward word order in a normal main clause.

In Afrikaans, nouns are not automatically capitalized.

So:

• tandplaak is lowercase
• tandbederf is lowercase
• veroorsaak is lowercase

Only Die is capitalized here because it is the first word of the sentence.

This is different from German, where all nouns are capitalized.

It is most naturally understood as a general truth or scientific fact:

Plaque causes tooth decay.

Afrikaans often uses the simple present for this kind of statement, just like English does.

So veroorsaak here does not mean only is causing right now. It means something more general: this is what plaque does.

Yes, very easily:

• Die = the
• tandplaak = dental plaque
• veroorsaak = causes
• tandbederf = tooth decay

So the structure is very close to English, which makes this sentence beginner-friendly. The main things to notice are:

• compound nouns are written as one word
• die is pronounced dee
• the verb does not change for the subject