Questions & Answers about Saya simpan dompet di kantong tas saya.
Why is simpan used instead of menyimpan?
In standard Indonesian grammar, the active form of the verb “to store/keep” is menyimpan. However, in everyday speech and even in neutral written style, it’s common to drop the meN- prefix and use the bare root for simple present or habitual actions. So both of these are correct and nearly interchangeable:
- Saya menyimpan dompet... (more “textbook”/formal)
- Saya simpan dompet... (everyday/colloquial)
The meaning doesn’t change—you’re simply using the unprefixed verb.
How do you show past or future time if the verb form never changes?
Indonesian verbs do not inflect for tense. Instead you add time markers or adverbs:
- For past actions use sudah (already) or time words like kemarin (yesterday).
Example: Saya sudah simpan dompet di kantong tas saya. - For future actions use akan (will) or a time word.
Example: Saya akan simpan dompet di kantong tas saya besok.
Without these markers, the sentence simply states the action in a neutral time frame.
What function does the little word di have before kantong tas saya?
di is the locative preposition meaning “in/at/on.” In di kantong tas saya, it tells you where the wallet is placed. You can think of it as “in the pocket of my bag.” If you omit di, you’d lose the sense of location.