Die opskeplepel is by die ontsmettingspunt.

to be

Breakdown of Die opskeplepel is by die ontsmettingspunt.

• by: by
• die opskeplepel: serving ladle
• die ontsmettingspunt: sanitising point

Questions & Answers about Die opskeplepel is by die ontsmettingspunt.

Why is die used twice in Die opskeplepel is by die ontsmettingspunt?

Because Afrikaans uses die as the definite article for the, and it does not change for gender or number in the way some other languages do.

So in this sentence:

• die opskeplepel = the serving spoon / ladle
• die ontsmettingspunt = the disinfection point / sanitizing station

Afrikaans repeats die before each definite noun phrase, just as English repeats the:

• The spoon is by the sink.
• The ladle is by the sanitizing station.

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Does die mean the, even though it looks like English die?

Yes. In Afrikaans, die very often means the.

That can look strange to English speakers at first, because English die is a verb. But in Afrikaans, die is a very common article.

Examples:

• die tafel = the table
• die man = the man
• die kinders = the children

So in this sentence, both instances of die simply mean the.

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Why is the verb is the same as in English?