Learn Hardcore Afrikaans: Hierdie verslag bevat nuttige inligting.

Hierdie is the demonstrative adjective meaning this. It precedes a noun (e.g., verslag) to specify a particular item. When you say Hierdie verslag, you mean this report. Because hierdie already makes the noun definite, you don’t add the article die.

How would you say the report in Afrikaans if you weren’t using hierdie?

To say the report, you use die verslag. Here die is the definite article (the).
Examples:

my report → my verslag
the report → die verslag
this report → hierdie verslag

What does verslag mean, and how do you form its plural?

Verslag means report (a document summarizing information). Its plural is verslae, formed by adding -e and adjusting the ending according to Afrikaans plural rules.

What is the verb bevat, and how is it used in this sentence?

Bevat means contains. It is the present-tense form and stays the same for all subjects:

ek bevat (I contain)
jy bevat (you contain)
hy/sy bevat (he/she contains)
The infinitive is also bevat; to form the past you say het bevat (has contained).

Why is the adjective nuttige spelled with -e at the end instead of just nuttig?

In Afrikaans, attributive adjectives (those placed before a noun) take an -e ending if:
• the noun phrase is definite (with die, hierdie, a possessive, etc.), or
• the noun is a mass/uncountable noun.
Here inligting (information) is uncountable, so the adjective must be inflected: nuttige inligting.

What does inligting mean, and can you make it plural?

Inligting means information. It is an uncountable or collective noun and does not have a plural form. To express quantity you would say:

a bit of information → bietjie inligting
some information → ’n paar stukkies inligting

How would you form the negative of this sentence to say This report does not contain useful information?

Afrikaans uses a double nie for negation:
Hierdie verslag bevat nie nuttige inligting nie.
Literally: “This report contains not useful information not.”

How do you turn the sentence into a question: Does this report contain useful information?

In Afrikaans yes/no questions you invert the verb and subject:
Bevat hierdie verslag nuttige inligting?
(Verb first, then subject, then object.)

How do you express This report contained useful information in the past tense?

Use the auxiliary het plus the verb form:
Hierdie verslag het nuttige inligting bevat.
(“This report has contained useful information.”)

Can you give pronunciation guidance for verslag, bevat, nuttige, and inligting?

Approximate pronunciations (broad Afrikaans):
• verslag: /fər-ˈslɑx/ (final g is a guttural , like Scottish loch)
• bevat: /bə-ˈfat/ (stress on the second syllable)
• nuttige: /ˈnʏ.tə.xə/ (two syllables; final ge = [xə])
• inligting: /ɪn-ˈlɪχ.tɪŋ/ (both gs are the same guttural [χ])