Breakdown of Resepsionis hotel meminta paspor saya sebelum memberi kunci kamar.
kamar
the room
sebelum
before
saya
my
memberi
to give
paspor
the passport
hotel
the hotel
resepsionis
the receptionist
meminta
to ask for
kunci
the key
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Questions & Answers about Resepsionis hotel meminta paspor saya sebelum memberi kunci kamar.
What does Resepsionis hotel mean, and how do noun modifiers work in Indonesian?
Resepsionis hotel literally means “hotel receptionist.” In Indonesian, the head noun (resepsionis, “receptionist”) comes first, and the modifier (hotel) follows. This pattern (noun + noun) is used instead of English’s adjective–noun order.
Why is the verb meminta used instead of just minta?
meminta is the standard active, transitive verb formed by adding the meN- prefix to the root minta (“ask for”). In formal or written Indonesian you generally use the prefix. In very casual speech people sometimes drop the prefix and say minta, but that’s colloquial.
How do I know if meminta refers to a past or present action?
Indonesian verbs are not inflected for tense. meminta can be past, present, or even future, depending on context. If you want to mark completion (past), you can add words like sudah or telah (“already”):
- Resepsionis hotel sudah meminta paspor saya…
Why doesn’t meminta paspor saya need an extra word for “for”—English has “ask for my passport”?
The root minta already includes the sense “ask for,” so you don’t need a preposition. If you want to ask a question (not request something), you’d use bertanya (“ask a question”).
Why is the possessive pronoun saya placed after paspor, and can I use -ku instead?
In Indonesian, possessors follow the noun, so paspor saya means “my passport.” You can also use the enclitic -ku for informality: pasporku. Both are correct; saya is more neutral/formal, -ku more casual.
What role does sebelum play in this sentence?
sebelum means “before” and serves as a conjunction linking two actions. It tells you that the receptionist’s request for the passport happens prior to giving the room key.
Why is memberi used for “give,” and what about the word kasih?
memberi is the formal verb (meN- + root beri). In everyday speech, many Indonesians say kasih (root “give”) or ngasih (colloquial me- form). In polite or written contexts, memberi is preferred.
How can I turn this sentence into the passive voice?
You change meminta to diminta and memberi to diberikan, and you can include “oleh” if you want the agent:
Paspor saya diminta oleh resepsionis hotel sebelum kunci kamar diberikan.
Why is the phrase kunci kamar structured that way and not kamar kunci?
Like other noun–noun compounds, the head noun comes first (kunci, “key”) and the modifier follows (kamar, “room”), giving kunci kamar for “room key.”