Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kasir memberi diskon tambahan ketika saya menunjukkan kartu anggota. - The cashier gives an extra discount when I show my membership card.

Indonesian has two common active forms of “to give”: memberi (just the prefix meN- plus the root beri) and memberikan (adding the suffix -kan). Both mean “to give.” Memberi is shorter and more colloquial, while memberikan can sound a bit more formal or emphatic. You can say either kasir memberi diskon tambahan or kasir memberikan diskon tambahan with no change in basic meaning.

What does diskon tambahan actually mean, and why is tambahan placed after diskon?

Diskon is a borrowed noun meaning “discount.” Tambahan means “additional” or “extra.” In Indonesian, adjectives typically follow the noun they describe, so diskon tambahan literally means “additional discount.” You could also encounter diskon ekstra, which is a more colloquial mix of Indonesian and English but means essentially the same thing.

Why is ketika used here instead of saat or waktu?

Ketika is a conjunction meaning “when” used to introduce time clauses. It’s slightly more formal or literary than saat, which also means “when” but is common in speech. Waktu is a noun meaning “time,” so you’d need to turn it into pada waktu (“at the time when”) if you wanted to use it as a conjunction: pada waktu saya menunjukkan…; that form is correct but a bit longer.

How is menunjukkan formed, and what does it mean exactly?

The root verb is tunjuk (“to point”). With the meN- prefix and the suffix -kan, it becomes menunjukkan, which turns it into a transitive verb meaning “to show something to someone.” The pattern meN-…-kan often adds a sense of “causative” or “making something happen,” here “making (someone) see something.”

Can I say kartu keanggotaan instead of kartu anggota?

Yes. Kartu anggota (“member card”) and kartu keanggotaan (“membership card”) are both perfectly acceptable. Keanggotaan is the noun “membership,” while anggota means “member,” but the meanings converge when describing the plastic card you carry.

Could I move the time clause to the front, like Ketika saya menunjukkan kartu anggota, kasir memberi diskon tambahan?

Absolutely. Indonesian allows flexible word order for adverbial clauses. Putting Ketika saya menunjukkan kartu anggota at the front is grammatically correct and often used for emphasis or variety. Both orders work:

Kasir memberi diskon tambahan ketika saya menunjukkan kartu anggota.
Ketika saya menunjukkan kartu anggota, kasir memberi diskon tambahan.

Could I rewrite the sentence in passive voice, for example Saya diberi diskon tambahan ketika saya menunjukkan kartu anggota?

Yes. In passive voice, diberi is the passive form of memberi, so Saya diberi diskon tambahan means “I was given an additional discount.” It’s perfectly natural and shifts focus onto you as the recipient. You can even drop the second saya: Saya diberi diskon tambahan ketika menunjukkan kartu anggota.

Is it okay to omit saya in the subordinate clause so it becomes Kasir memberi diskon tambahan ketika menunjukkan kartu anggota?

You can omit personal pronouns in Indonesian when context is clear. However, if you leave out saya, the sentence technically reads “when (someone) showed the membership card,” which might confuse who’s doing the showing. If the context makes it obvious that you’re the one showing the card, it’s acceptable in casual speech.