Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Periksa jadwal rapat sebelum pergi ke kantor. - Check the meeting schedule before going to the office.

Periksa comes from memeriksa (to check or examine). In Indonesian imperatives you drop the me- prefix and use the base form. So Periksa simply means “(you) check.”

Why isn’t there any subject like “you” or “I” in the sentence?

Indonesian often omits pronouns when they can be inferred. In commands the subject (kamu/Anda) is implied, so you just say Periksa… without adding “you.”

What does jadwal rapat mean, and why isn’t there a plural marker?

Jadwal means schedule and rapat means meeting, so jadwal rapat is “meeting schedule.” Indonesian nouns don’t change form for plurals; you rely on context or words like banyak (many) if you need to emphasize plurality.

What function does sebelum serve in this sentence?

Sebelum is a subordinating conjunction meaning “before.” It introduces the action that must happen first: check the meeting schedule before going to the office.

Why is it pergi ke kantor instead of just pergi kantor?

In standard Indonesian, motion verbs like pergi (to go) require the preposition ke (to) before the destination. Omitting ke can occur in casual speech, but pergi ke kantor is the correct formal structure.

Can I include a subject in the subordinate clause, for example sebelum saya pergi ke kantor?

Yes. Adding saya (I) is optional for clarity:
Periksa jadwal rapat sebelum saya pergi ke kantor.
It then reads “Check the meeting schedule before I go to the office.” Without saya, “I” is still understood.

Is it okay to use cek instead of periksa here?

Absolutely. Cek is a colloquial borrowing from English “check.”
Cek jadwal rapat sebelum pergi ke kantor.
feels more casual, while periksa is slightly more formal or polite.