Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Ons waardeer die veiligheid by die hotel.

Ons is the first-person plural subject pronoun in Afrikaans, equivalent to “we” in English. It indicates that the speakers (we) are the ones doing the action waardeer. Incidentally, ons also serves as “us” (object) and “our” (possessive) in other contexts.

Why is the verb waardeer not changed for “we”? Shouldn’t there be a different ending?

In Afrikaans, present-tense verbs do not inflect for person or number. Whether you say ek waardeer, jy waardeer, ons waardeer or hulle waardeer, the verb form remains waardeer. This makes conjugation far simpler than in English.

What does waardeer mean, and is it a regular verb?

Waardeer means “to appreciate” or “to value.” It is a regular verb: its infinitive is waardeer, and its present-tense form is the same (waardeer) for all subjects.

What is the role of die before veiligheid?

Die is the definite article in Afrikaans, equivalent to “the” in English. It does not change with gender or number. Here, die veiligheid simply means “the safety.”

Why is veiligheid used instead of veilig?

Veilig is an adjective meaning “safe.” To turn it into the noun “safety,” Afrikaans adds the suffix -heid, forming the abstract noun veiligheid. So veiligheid = “safety.”

Why is the preposition by used before die hotel, and could we use in instead?

By in this context means “at” (in the sense of location or setting). It focuses on the hotel as a place offering safety. If you said in die hotel, you’d emphasize being physically inside the building. Both are correct, but by die hotel highlights the general location or context.

How is the word order arranged in this Afrikaans sentence?

Afrikaans follows a verb-second (V2) rule in main clauses: the finite verb must occupy the second position. Here you have:

Ons (subject)
waardeer (verb)
die veiligheid by die hotel (object/prepositional phrase)
This mirrors the English S-V-O order.