Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Sepeda saya basah karena hujan. - My bicycle is wet because of the rain.

In Indonesian, the copula “to be” (is, are) is usually omitted in descriptive or equational sentences. You simply state [Subject] + [Predicate adjective]. So Sepeda saya basah literally reads “My bicycle wet,” but it’s understood as “My bicycle is wet.”

What is the structure or word order of Sepeda saya basah?

The pattern here is Subject + Predicate.
• Subject: Sepeda saya (“my bicycle”)
• Predicate: basah (“wet”)
Adjectives follow the subject without any linking verb.

Why is it Sepeda saya and not Saya sepeda?

Possession in Indonesian is marked by placing the possessed noun first, then the possessor: [Possessed] + [Possessor]. So sepeda (bicycle) comes before saya (my).

Could we say Sepedaku basah karena hujan instead of Sepeda saya basah karena hujan?

Yes. Sepedaku uses the possessive suffix -ku (“my”) attached directly to the noun. It’s more informal and common in speech, but it means exactly the same as sepeda saya.

Why use saya instead of aku?

Saya is a neutral or polite first-person pronoun suited for formal or respectful contexts. Aku is more informal and typically used among close friends or family.

What part of speech is basah, and does it change form?

Basah is an adjective meaning “wet.” Indonesian adjectives do not change for gender, number, or tense—they stay the same regardless of the subject or time.

What does karena do in this sentence, and can its position change?

Karena is a conjunction meaning “because.” It introduces the reason. You can place it after the result (Sepeda saya basah karena hujan) or at the beginning for emphasis (Karena hujan, sepeda saya basah).

Why aren’t there words for “a” or “the” before sepeda?

Indonesian has no direct equivalents of “a” or “the.” Definiteness or indefiniteness is inferred from context or explicitly added with words like sebuah (“a”) or itu (“that/the”).