Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Indonesian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Saya memperbaiki lemari.
What is the literal meaning of each word in "Saya memperbaiki lemari"?
Saya means "I" (the speaker); memperbaiki means "to repair" or "to fix"; and lemari means a "cabinet", "cupboard", or "wardrobe". Overall, the sentence translates to "I repair the cabinet."
What is the sentence structure in Indonesian, and how does it compare to English?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, just like English. Saya serves as the subject, memperbaiki is the verb, and lemari is the object. This similarity helps English speakers recognize the basic structure when forming Indonesian sentences.
Why does the verb "memperbaiki" remain unchanged regardless of tense or subject?
Indonesian verbs do not inflect for tense or subject as in English. Instead, the language uses context or time indicators (like sedang for ongoing actions, sudah for completed actions) to convey temporal information. Thus, memperbaiki stays in its base form regardless of when the action occurs.
How is the verb "memperbaiki" constructed, and what does the prefix "memper-" indicate?
The verb memperbaiki is formed by adding the prefix memper- to the root baik (which means "good"). The memper- prefix functions in a causative manner, implying an action that aims to restore something to a good or proper state. Therefore, memperbaiki literally denotes the act of making something good by repairing it.
Is it possible to change the voice of the sentence, and if so, how would that look?
Yes, the sentence can be transformed into a passive construction. For example, "Lemari diperbaiki oleh saya" translates to "The cabinet is repaired by me." Although the passive voice is grammatically correct, the active voice (as in the original sentence) is more commonly used in everyday Indonesian.