Ons sal melk nodig hê.

We will need milk.

Breakdown of Ons sal melk nodig hê.

• ons: we
• die melk: the milk
• nodig hê: will need

Questions & Answers about Ons sal melk nodig hê.

Why does the sentence use “sal” instead of another verb for the future tense?

In Afrikaans, sal is used to indicate the future tense. It functions similarly to “will” in English. So Ons sal melk nodig hê translates to something akin to “We will need milk.”

Why is “nodig hê” split into two words instead of being a single word like “nodig hê” together?

In Afrikaans, nodig (meaning “need”) and hê (meaning “to have”) work together as a phrase to express the concept of “to need.” They remain two separate words in spelling, but you treat them as a single phrase to convey necessity.

Where do I place ‘ons’ (the subject) in a future tense sentence?

Generally, the word order in an Afrikaans sentence follows subject → helper verb → rest of the sentence. Here, ons (we) is the subject, sal is the helper verb for future tense, and melk nodig hê is the rest of the sentence.

Could I say “Ons gaan melk nodig hê” instead of “Ons sal melk nodig hê”?

Yes, in everyday speech, you might hear Ons gaan melk nodig hê, which also indicates future action. However, sal is more traditional for the simple future tense, while gaan can have a slightly more immediate sense of “going to.” Both are acceptable, though sal is typically taught as the standard future tense marker.

Why is the circumflex (^) used in “hê”?

The circumflex in hê indicates that the “e” is pronounced with a longer, slightly raised sound compared to a short “e.” This helps differentiate it from “he,” which would be pronounced differently. It’s common in Afrikaans words that need a specific vowel length or stress.