Dit verminder besoedeling.

This reduces pollution.

Breakdown of Dit verminder besoedeling.

• dit: it
• die besoedeling: the pollution
• verminder: to reduce; decrease

Questions & Answers about Dit verminder besoedeling.

What does dit mean here?

Dit usually means it in Afrikaans. In some contexts, it can also correspond to this or that, but in a simple sentence like Dit verminder besoedeling, the most natural translation is It reduces pollution.

Why is verminder not changed the way English verbs change, like reduces?

Afrikaans verbs do not conjugate for person the way English verbs do. That means the verb usually stays the same whether the subject is ek (I), jy (you), hy/sy/dit (he/she/it), or hulle (they).

For example:

• Ek verminder besoedeling = I reduce pollution
• Dit verminder besoedeling = It reduces pollution
• Hulle verminder besoedeling = They reduce pollution

So unlike English, Afrikaans does not add an -s for he/she/it in the present tense.

Is verminder a verb, and what exactly does it mean?