Die asemhalingsoefening is belangrik.

to be

Breakdown of Die asemhalingsoefening is belangrik.

• belangrik: important
• die asemhalingsoefening: breathing exercise

Questions & Answers about Die asemhalingsoefening is belangrik.

Why is asemhalingsoefening written as one long word?

Afrikaans, like Dutch and German, very often makes compound nouns by joining words together.

So:

• asemhaling = breathing
• oefening = exercise

Together they become:

• asemhalingsoefening = breathing exercise

This is completely normal in Afrikaans. English often writes similar ideas as separate words, but Afrikaans usually joins them into one noun.

You may also notice the -s- in the middle: asemhaling-s-oefening. This is a common linking s in Afrikaans compounds.

What does die mean here?

Die is the definite article in Afrikaans. It usually means the.

So:

• die asemhalingsoefening = the breathing exercise

A useful thing for English speakers: Afrikaans does not change the article for gender.

So unlike languages such as German or French, you do not need different words for masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns here. Die is used very widely.

Is die singular or plural here?