Saya punya tugas untuk hari ini.

I have an assignment for today.

Breakdown of Saya punya tugas untuk hari ini.

• saya: I
• punya: to have
• hari ini: today
• tugas: the assignment
• untuk: for

Questions & Answers about Saya punya tugas untuk hari ini.

Why is punya used here instead of just saying Saya tugas untuk hari ini?

In Indonesian, punya means have in English. You normally need a verb for to have in this context, so you say Saya punya tugas rather than Saya tugas, which would sound incomplete.

Can I replace Saya with Aku in this sentence?

Yes, you can. Saya and Aku both mean I in English. However, Saya is more formal or neutral, and Aku is typically more casual or intimate.

What does tugas specifically refer to here?

Tugas generally means task, assignment, or homework, depending on context. In this sentence, it implies you have some kind of assignment, whether it’s school homework or another responsibility.

Do I really need untuk before hari ini?

Using untuk emphasizes that the assignment is intended for today. If you omit untuk and just say Saya punya tugas hari ini, it’s still understood, but the focus on the purpose or allotment for today is slightly less explicit.

Is there a way to make this sentence sound more formal or polite?

You could use a more formal structure such as Saya memiliki tugas untuk hari ini. Memiliki is a more formal verb for have, but it’s perfectly acceptable to stick with punya in most conversational contexts.