Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Guru rajin menyiapkan pelajaran setiap malam. - A diligent teacher prepares lessons every night.

rajin literally means diligent but here it acts as an adverb of manner, modifying the verb menyiapkan (to prepare). Indonesian adjectives can directly serve as adverbs without additional markers.

Why does menyiapkan have the prefix meN- and the suffix -kan, and what is the effect?

The meN- prefix marks an active, agent-focus verb, while the -kan suffix makes it transitive or causative. Combined with the root, menyiapkan literally means to make ready or to cause something to be ready.

What is the root word of menyiapkan, and what does it mean on its own?

The root is siap, which means ready. Adding meN- and -kan turns it into menyiapkan, to prepare.

What does pelajaran mean, and how is it formed?

pelajaran is a noun meaning lesson or subject. It’s formed from the root ajar (to teach) with the pe- prefix and -an suffix, a common pattern to create nouns related to the action or object of a verb.

Why isn’t menyiapkan marked for tense? How is time usually indicated in Indonesian?

Indonesian verbs do not inflect for tense. Time is shown by context or by adding time expressions. Here, setiap malam (every night) indicates a habitual action. To specify past, you can add sudah (already); for future, akan (will).

What does setiap malam mean, and is it interchangeable with tiap malam?

setiap means every, so setiap malam is every night. In informal speech, you can shorten setiap to tiap, so tiap malam has the same meaning.

Is the word order in Guru rajin menyiapkan pelajaran setiap malam fixed? Can you move setiap malam to the front?

Indonesian word order is quite flexible. You can say Setiap malam guru rajin menyiapkan pelajaran to emphasize the frequency. Time expressions may appear at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.

What is the difference between menyiapkan and mempersiapkan? Are they interchangeable?

Both mean to prepare. menyiapkan is based on the native root siap, while mempersiapkan comes from the borrowed root persiap (from persiapan). mempersiapkan often sounds slightly more formal or written, but in most contexts they are interchangeable.