Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya sering bangun pagi karena harus menyiapkan sarapan. - I often wake up early because I have to prepare breakfast.

Sering means often. It acts as an adverb of frequency modifying the verb bangun (wake up), indicating that the action happens on many occasions.

Why is pagi placed right after bangun, and does bangun pagi form a specific expression?

Yes, bangun pagi is a common expression in Indonesian that means to wake up early (or simply waking up in the morning). Placing pagi immediately after bangun specifies the time frame of the action.

What role does karena play in the sentence, and how does it connect the ideas?

Karena means because and introduces the reason clause. It connects the main clause (Saya sering bangun pagi) to the subordinate clause (harus menyiapkan sarapan), explaining why the action happens.

Why is the subject Saya not repeated in the subordinate clause harus menyiapkan sarapan?

In Indonesian, it is common to omit the subject in a subordinate clause if it is the same as in the main clause. Since Saya is understood to be performing both actions, repeating the subject is unnecessary.

How does the word order in this sentence compare to typical English sentence structure?

The sentence follows a subject-adverb-verb-time order: Saya (subject) sering (adverb) bangun (verb) pagi (time). This structure is similar to English (e.g., I often wake up early), though Indonesian often omits repeated subjects in subordinate clauses, which might be explicitly stated in English.

How does harus menyiapkan convey obligation, and could another modal be used instead of harus?

Harus conveys necessity or obligation, similar to must in English. When combined with menyiapkan (to prepare), it indicates that preparing breakfast is a necessary action. While there are other expressions to indicate necessity (like perlu in certain contexts), harus is the standard way to express obligation in Indonesian.