Using Verbs in Indonesian
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
In Indonesian, all kinds of subjects must be followed by the same verb. There is no way to add "s" or "es" at the end of verbs. Consider the following examples:
Mereka berenang di kolam renang.
They swim in the swimming pool.
Laura berenang di kolam renang.
Laura swims in the swimming pool.
Verb: berenang (swim/swims)
Saya mengendarai mobil.
I drive a car.
John mengendarai mobil.
John drives a car.
Verb: mengendarai (drive/drives)
Kamu pergi ke sekolah.
You go to school.
Dia pergi ke sekolah.
He (or She) goes to school.
Verb: pergi (go/goes)
Mereka berenang di kolam renang.
They swim in the swimming pool.
Laura berenang di kolam renang.
Laura swims in the swimming pool.
Verb: berenang (swim/swims)
Saya mengendarai mobil.
I drive a car.
John mengendarai mobil.
John drives a car.
Verb: mengendarai (drive/drives)
Kamu pergi ke sekolah.
You go to school.
Dia pergi ke sekolah.
He (or She) goes to school.
Verb: pergi (go/goes)
Labels: Concept
The Simplest Sentence in Indonesian
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Similar to English, in Indonesian (known as Bahasa Indonesia), the simplest sentence consists of a subject and a predicate. The main difference is in Bahasa Indonesia the predicate must not be a verb. So there is no "to be" inside. Please consider the following examples:
Saya belajar.
I study.
Subject: Saya (I)
Predicate [verb]: belajar (study)
Dia lapar.
He (or She) is hungry.
Subject: Dia (He or She)
Predicate [adjective]: lapar (hungry)
Mereka di Bali.
They are in Bali.
Subject: Mereka (They)
Predicate [adverb of place]: di Bali (in Bali)
This is very simple, isn't it? If you want to add an object in a sentence, place it after predicate. Here’s the examples:
Saya mencintai kamu.
I love you.
Subject: Saya (I)
Predicate: mencintai (love)
Object: kamu (you)
Dia menulis surat.
He (or She) writes a letter.
Subject: Dia (He or She)
Predicate: menulis (writes)
Object: surat (a letter)
John membaca buku.
John reads a book.
Subject: John
Predicate: membaca (reads)
Object: buku (a book)
Subjects
There are six kinds of subjects in Indonesian:
Singular:
saya or aku (I), kamu (you), and dia (he/she/it)
Plural:
kami (we), kalian (you), and mereka (they)
Objects
Singular:
saya or ku (me), kamu (you), and dia (him/her/it)
Plural:
kami (us), kalian (you), and mereka (them)
More Examples
Alex membenci mereka.
Alex hates them.
Kami menyukai dia.
We like him (or her).
Sarah pergi ke Bali.
Sarah goes to Bali.
Dia cantik.
She is beautiful.
Dia tampan.
He is handsome.
Saya belajar.
I study.
Subject: Saya (I)
Predicate [verb]: belajar (study)
Dia lapar.
He (or She) is hungry.
Subject: Dia (He or She)
Predicate [adjective]: lapar (hungry)
Mereka di Bali.
They are in Bali.
Subject: Mereka (They)
Predicate [adverb of place]: di Bali (in Bali)
This is very simple, isn't it? If you want to add an object in a sentence, place it after predicate. Here’s the examples:
Saya mencintai kamu.
I love you.
Subject: Saya (I)
Predicate: mencintai (love)
Object: kamu (you)
Dia menulis surat.
He (or She) writes a letter.
Subject: Dia (He or She)
Predicate: menulis (writes)
Object: surat (a letter)
John membaca buku.
John reads a book.
Subject: John
Predicate: membaca (reads)
Object: buku (a book)
Subjects
There are six kinds of subjects in Indonesian:
Singular:
saya or aku (I), kamu (you), and dia (he/she/it)
Plural:
kami (we), kalian (you), and mereka (they)
Objects
Singular:
saya or ku (me), kamu (you), and dia (him/her/it)
Plural:
kami (us), kalian (you), and mereka (them)
More Examples
Alex membenci mereka.
Alex hates them.
Kami menyukai dia.
We like him (or her).
Sarah pergi ke Bali.
Sarah goes to Bali.
Dia cantik.
She is beautiful.
Dia tampan.
He is handsome.
Labels: Concept
