Hierdie vaardigheid is belangrik.

to be

Breakdown of Hierdie vaardigheid is belangrik.

• hierdie: this
• belangrik: important
• die vaardigheid: the skill; learned ability

Questions & Answers about Hierdie vaardigheid is belangrik.

What does hierdie mean here, and how is it different from die?

Hierdie means this (or these, depending on context). In this sentence, hierdie vaardigheid means this skill.

It is different from die, which usually means the in Afrikaans.

• die vaardigheid = the skill
• hierdie vaardigheid = this skill

So hierdie points something out more specifically.

Why is the word is used? Is it the same as English is?

Yes. Is is the present-tense form of to be in Afrikaans, and it works very much like English is in sentences like this.

So:

• Hierdie vaardigheid is belangrik.
• This skill is important.

A useful thing to know is that Afrikaans does not change the present tense of is the way English changes am / is / are. For example:

• Ek is = I am
• Jy is = you are
• Hy is = he is
• Ons is = we are

So is is used much more broadly than English is.

Is the word order the same as in English?