Saya menutup gerbang sekolah setiap malam.

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Breakdown of Saya menutup gerbang sekolah setiap malam.

• setiap: every
• sekolah: the school
• malam: the night

Questions & Answers about Saya menutup gerbang sekolah setiap malam.

Why is the verb menutup used instead of just the root tutup?

In Indonesian, to turn a root word into an active verb you add the me- prefix. The root tutup (meaning “closed” or “close”) becomes menutup due to nasal assimilation: me- + tutup ⇒ menutup. Without this prefix, tutup is not an active verb.

What is the difference between menutup, menutupi, and menutupkan?

• menutup: “to close” something (e.g., close a gate).
• menutupi: “to cover” something, physically or figuratively (e.g., cover your head; cover up a mistake).
• menutupkan: verbs with -kan often indicate doing the action for someone or causing the action.
  Example: Dia menutupkan pintu untuk adiknya. (“He closed the door for his sibling.”)

Why is it gerbang sekolah and not sekolah gerbang?

In Indonesian, the head noun comes first and the modifier follows. gerbang is the head (gate), sekolah is the modifier (school). So “school gate” is gerbang sekolah, not sekolah gerbang.

Why is there no preposition before setiap malam? Wouldn't pada malam be correct?