Breakdown of Catatan itu jelas, jadi belajar terasa lebih mudah.
adalah
to be
itu
that
mudah
easy
belajar
to study
lebih
more
jelas
clear
jadi
so
terasa
to feel
catatan
the note
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Questions & Answers about Catatan itu jelas, jadi belajar terasa lebih mudah.
Why is Catatan itu translated as “those notes” or “the notes”, and not “these notes”?
In Indonesian, itu placed after a noun means “that” or “the”, referring to something more distant or already known in context. If you want to say “these notes,” you’d use ini instead:
- Catatan ini jelas – “These notes are clear.”
Why don’t we need a verb like “are” or “is” between Catatan itu and jelas?
Indonesian allows a nominal or adjectival predicate without a linking verb. Instead of “to be,” you simply place the adjective or noun after the subject:
- Catatan itu jelas – literally “The notes clear,” which in English becomes “The notes are clear.”
What does jelas mean, and can it change form?
Jelas means “clear” or “understandable.” It’s an adjective that doesn’t change form for number or gender—Indonesian adjectives are invariant. The same word is used whether you describe one note or many.
How does jadi function in this sentence? It looks like the verb “to become.”
Here, jadi is a conjunction meaning “so” or “therefore.” It connects two clauses and shows cause and effect:
- Catatan itu jelas (Cause)
- jadi belajar terasa lebih mudah (Effect)
If you used it as a verb, it indeed means “to become”, but in this context it’s just “so.”
What does terasa lebih mudah mean, and how do those words work together?
- Terasa comes from the root rasa (to feel). As a passive-like verb it means “feels” or “is felt.”
- Lebih means “more.”
- Mudah means “easy.”
Combined, terasa lebih mudah means “feels easier.”
Why use terasa instead of just mudah?
If you say belajar mudah, you’re stating a fact: “studying is easy.” By saying belajar terasa lebih mudah, you emphasize the learner’s perception: “studying feels easier” (perhaps compared to before or compared to other methods).
Can I swap the clauses around? For example, start with Jadi?
Yes, but the emphasis shifts.
- Belajar terasa lebih mudah, jadi catatan itu jelas sounds odd because you’re saying “Studying feels easier, so the notes are clear,” which reverses the logical order.
It’s more natural to present the clarity (cause) first, then the ease of learning (effect).