Hy stel die meterlesing reg.

Because regstel is a separable verb in Afrikaans.

The full verb is regstel = to correct / to put right / to rectify.
In a simple main clause, it splits:

• Hy stel die meterlesing reg.

Here:

• stel is the finite verb in second position
• reg moves to the end

This is very common in Afrikaans with separable verbs.

Compare:

• Ek maak die deur oop. = I open the door.
• Sy skryf die fout neer. = She writes the mistake down.

So stel ... reg is the normal split form of regstel.

It means to correct, to fix, or to put right.

So Hy stel die meterlesing reg means that he is correcting the meter reading, adjusting it, or making it accurate.

Literally, you can think of it as something like:

• stel = set / place / put
• reg = right / correct / straight

But in real usage, the phrase works as one unit: regstel.

Not always, but they are related.

Stel is a very common Afrikaans verb with several meanings depending on the expression. On its own or in different phrases, it can mean things like:

• put
• place
• set
• pose
• state

But in regstel, you should learn it as part of the full verb, not by itself.
So here, it is best understood as:

• regstel = correct / rectify

rather than trying to translate stel word-for-word.

Meterlesing is a compound noun, and Afrikaans usually writes compound nouns as one word.

It is made from:

• meter = meter
• lesing = reading

So:

• meterlesing = meter reading

This is very normal in Afrikaans. English often writes similar ideas as two words, but Afrikaans often joins them:

• huisdeur = house door / front door
• waterbottel = water bottle
• kragrekening = electricity bill

So meterlesing as one word is exactly what you should expect.

Not always.

Lesing can mean different things depending on context, including:

• a reading
• a lecture
• a recital

But in meterlesing, it clearly means reading in the sense of a measured result taken from a meter.

So here:

• meterlesing = the reading shown by the meter

Die means the, while 'n means a/an.

So:

• die meterlesing = the meter reading
• 'n meterlesing = a meter reading

In this sentence, die suggests a specific meter reading is being talked about — one that both speaker and listener can identify from the context.

Also remember: Afrikaans uses die for all singular and plural definite nouns. There is no separate word like English the for different genders.

Afrikaans follows the usual verb-second pattern in main clauses.

In Hy stel die meterlesing reg:

1. Hy = subject
2. stel = finite verb
3. die meterlesing = object
4. reg = separated particle at the end

English keeps the whole verb together:

• He corrects the meter reading.

Afrikaans splits the separable verb:

• Hy stel die meterlesing reg.

So the word order may feel unusual to an English speaker, but it is completely normal Afrikaans grammar.

Then it usually stays together as regstel.

For example:

• Ek dink dat hy die meterlesing regstel.
  = I think that he corrects the meter reading.

• Hy wil die meterlesing regstel.
  = He wants to correct the meter reading.

So the pattern is:

• Main clause: stel ... reg
• Infinitive / subordinate clause: regstel

This is one of the most important things to notice about separable verbs in Afrikaans.

A natural past-tense form is:

• Hy het die meterlesing reggestel.

Here:

• het is the auxiliary
• reggestel is the past participle

Notice that the verb is no longer split in this form.

So:

• Present: Hy stel die meterlesing reg.
• Past: Hy het die meterlesing reggestel.

Sometimes, but the meaning is not exactly the same.

• regstel usually means correct, rectify, or put right
• regmaak often means fix, repair, or make right

So if the issue is that the meter reading is wrong and needs to be corrected, regstel is a very good choice.

If something physical is broken, regmaak is often more natural:

• Hy maak die radio reg. = He fixes the radio.

For data, records, wording, or figures, regstel often sounds better:

• Hy stel die fout reg. = He corrects the mistake.
• Hy stel die meterlesing reg. = He corrects the meter reading.

On its own, reg can mean things like:

• right
• correct
• straight
• justified

But in this sentence, you should not treat it as a separate adjective meaning only right. It is part of the separable verb regstel.

So while the idea of right/correct is built into the word, the full meaning comes from the whole verb:

• regstel = correct / rectify

Yes. Hy stel die meterlesing reg is in the simple present.

In Afrikaans, the simple present can often cover meanings that English expresses with either:

• He corrects the meter reading or
• He is correcting the meter reading

The exact meaning depends on context.

If you need to emphasize that something is happening right now, Afrikaans can use other expressions, but very often the simple present is enough.

Yes, in a normal full sentence you need the subject.

• Hy = he

So:

• Hy stel die meterlesing reg. = He corrects the meter reading.

Afrikaans usually does not drop the subject the way some languages do. A complete sentence normally needs it unless the context is very special, such as commands or note-style writing.