Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Supermarket itu memberi diskon besar untuk buah dan sayur. - That supermarket gives a big discount on fruit and vegetables.

Itu is a demonstrative that follows the noun it specifies (“that supermarket”). In Indonesian, ini/itu usually come after the noun, not before. You can omit itu if context already makes clear which supermarket you mean, but removing it makes the sentence more general (“A supermarket gave…” rather than “That supermarket gave…”). You cannot put itu before: “itu supermarket” is ungrammatical (you would say supermarket itu).

Why is the English loanword supermarket used here? Can you use an Indonesian equivalent?

Indonesian commonly borrows supermarket from English. A more "native" term is pasar swalayan, which literally means “self-service market.” Both are understood, but supermarket is more colloquial in daily speech.

What is the function of memberi here? Could we use memberikan or some other form instead?

Memberi is the active verb “to give.” Its full form is memberikan, which is just memberi + -kan, often making the action more direct or formal. In practice, memberi diskon and memberikan diskon are interchangeable; both mean “to give/offer a discount.” You could also shorten to the root beri in commands (e.g., beri diskon!).

Why is diskon besar used instead of besar diskon? What is the adjective order?

Indonesian follows the pattern noun + adjective, so diskon besar (“big discount”) is correct. Putting besar before diskon (besar diskon) sounds unnatural because adjectives usually follow their noun.

Could we say diskon besar-besaran instead of diskon besar? What’s the difference?

Yes, diskon besar-besaran means “very large-scale discounts” or “massive discounts.” The repetition -besaran intensifies besar (“extra big”). Diskon besar is simply “a big discount,” whereas diskon besar-besaran implies a broader or more aggressive sale event.

What role does untuk play before buah dan sayur? Can it be omitted or replaced?

Untuk is a preposition meaning “for.” It links diskon to the items it applies to: “discounts for fruit and vegetables.” You cannot omit untuk here without changing the structure or sounding odd. Alternatives like pada (“on/at”) are possible (diskon besar pada buah dan sayur), but untuk is more idiomatic when talking about à discount “for” specific goods.

Why does the sentence say buah dan sayur and not buah-buahan dan sayur-sayuran?

Buah and sayur can be collective nouns meaning “fruit” and “vegetables” in general, so plurals are obvious from context. Buah-buahan and sayur-sayuran are more formal or emphatic plural forms. Both are correct; buah dan sayur is simply more concise and common in everyday speech.

Can this sentence be turned into passive voice? How would that look?

Yes. A passive version is:
Diskon besar untuk buah dan sayur diberikan oleh supermarket itu.
Here diberikan is the passive form of memberi, and oleh introduces the agent (“by that supermarket”). This shifts the focus onto diskon besar rather than the supermarket.