Grammar
If you are enthusiastic to start learning the Indonesian language, the best way is knowing something about the Grammar.
Here you find information of the most important rules of the Indonesian language.
Every grammatical rule is explained in a clear, and simple way, with several examples.
Remember that learning grammar is only one part of learning a language.
Learning examples that will help you how to speak or write is the best way to learn.
There is a lot to learn about the Indonesian grammar we picked out a few important topics.
Verbs
Most often it is not necessary to translate the verb: to be in the indonesian language.
For example
I am thirsty : Saya haus.
He is sleepy : Ia menganuk
They are ill : Mereka sakit
This is a bus : Ini bis
In the Indonesian language you just add the whole verb after the infinite.
I eat
-Saya makan
you eat
-kamu makan
he/she/it eats -ia makan
we eat
-kita/kami makan
you eat
-kalian makan
they eat -meraka makan
In the indonesian language we only use the basic verb in informal or if it is a command
For example : buka = open.
buka pintu = open the door
If you use this verb in combination with a grammatical agent you add -me, -mem or -men, -meng before the verb
I open the door : Saya membuka pinta.
I you use a past participle in a sentence you add -di before the verb
Pintunya sudah dibuka oleh saya : I already opened the door.
Examples of verbs with an additional -me (the first letter of the verb starts with m,n,ny,l,r,w or y)
For example :
lompat - melompat = to jump
mulai - memulai = to begin
mancing - memancing = to fish
If the word starts with a -p the -p changes in an -m
For example :
pilih - memilih = to choose
potong - memoting = to cut
If the word starts with a -t the -t changes in an -n
For example :
tulis - menulis = to read
tulis - menulis = to read
Examples of verbs with an additional -mem (the first letter of the verb starts with b or f)
buka - membuka = to open
bawa - membawa = to carry
Examples of verbs with an additional -men (the first letter of the verb starts with c, d or j)
cari - mencari = to search
dapat - mendapat = to get
Examples of verbs with an additional -meng (the first letter of the verb starts with a,e,o,u,i,g,h, or kh)
gambar - menggambar = to draw
hitung - menghitung = to count
Conjugation
In the Indonesian Language there is no conjugation as we know this in English.
For example : In the English language I play becomes I played in the past.
Instead of this In indonesia they use a word or expression of finished time.
For example: yesterday, last year, already
Present : Bapak tidur - Father sleeps
Past : Kemarin Bapak tidur : Father slept yesterday
Future : Besok Bapak bekerja : Father will work tomorrow.
Pronouns
In the indonesian language pronoun means : gata ganti
Personal pronoun
Saya : I
Kamu : you
(d)ia : He/She/It
kami : We
kalian : you
mereka : they
The personal pronoun becomes after the noun. if the pronoum is after a word it becomes a possesive pronoun
For example:
Saya John : I am John
Nama saya John : My name is John
Who, This, That
ini = this and itu = that and who = siapa
mobil ini saya : This is my car.
rumah itu paman saya : That is my uncle his house.
Siapa ini? : Who is this?
How to use the word : ada
Ada is an important word in the indonesian language
It is used when you want to say something about : to be, to be present.
For Example:
Ibu ada di rumah : Mother is at home
Ada lampu di meja : There is a lamp on the table.
Ada orang : Thera is someone.
It can also be used when you want to say something like : to have in stock, to be available, to have
Ada roti? : Do we have bread?
Kami ada mobil : We have a car
Ada dokter? : Is there a dokter?
The use of negatives : Tidak and bukan
The word tidak can mean No as well as Not and can be used for verbs and adverbs.
For Example:
Ibu Ada? : Is mother there?
Tidak ada : No she is not
John datang? : Is John coming?
Tidak, ia tidak datang : No, he is not coming
The word bukan means Not and is used in sentences where you want to say something like : is it not, did he not?
Ia sudah tahu, bukan? : He knew it, did he not?
Ini piring bersih bukan? : This plate is clean is it not?