Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya minum kopi, kemudian saya pergi ke pasar.

Saya translates to I in English. It is used as the subject pronoun in a formal or neutral context. While aku is another option used in informal communication, saya is appropriate for general or formal situations.

What does minum mean, and how is it used?

Minum means to drink. In Indonesian, verbs do not change form according to tense or subject, so minum remains the same whether the action is in the past, present, or future. In this sentence, it simply describes the action of drinking coffee.

Why is the subject saya repeated in both parts of the sentence?

Repeating saya in both clauses helps clarify that the same subject performs both actions. While Indonesian sometimes allows omitting the subject if context is clear, including it in writing reinforces clarity—especially when the sentence is composed of two distinct sequential actions.

What role does kemudian play in the sentence?

Kemudian functions as a conjunction meaning then or afterwards. It indicates the sequence of events, linking the action of drinking coffee to the subsequent action of going to the market. Alternatives like lalu or setelah itu can also be used to express a similar chronological relationship.

How are the actions structured in this sentence?

The sentence is a compound sentence that contains two independent clauses:

Saya minum kopi – stating the first action (drinking coffee).
Kemudian saya pergi ke pasar – stating the second action (going to the market) that follows.
The comma separates the two clauses, making it clear that the actions occur sequentially.

How does Indonesian handle tense in sentences like this?

Indonesian does not conjugate verbs to indicate tense as English does. Instead, context or temporal markers such as kemudian provide time-related information. Therefore, both minum and pergi retain the same form regardless of when the action takes place.

Is the punctuation (specifically, the comma) important in this sentence?

Yes, the comma is important because it separates the two clauses, making the sentence easier to understand. It helps indicate a pause between the independent actions, clarifying that one event follows the other in sequence.

Can the conjunction kemudian be replaced with another word, and if so, what are the options?

Yes, kemudian may be replaced with other conjunctions that indicate sequence, such as lalu or setelah itu. Each alternative maintains the meaning of "then" or "afterwards," but there might be subtle differences in usage depending on the context or the formality of the conversation.