Breakdown of Ada kucing kecil di halaman belakang.
di
in
kucing
the cat
kecil
small
halaman belakang
the backyard
ada
to be
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Questions & Answers about Ada kucing kecil di halaman belakang.
What is the function of ada in this sentence?
ada indicates existence—equivalent to English “there is” or “there are.” It introduces the fact that something exists or is present, without acting as a typical noun or verb in other contexts.
Does ada ever mean “to have” like in English?
No. When you want to say “to have” in Indonesian, you usually use punya (e.g., Saya punya kucing = “I have a cat”) or a possessive structure (e.g., kucing saya = “my cat”). ada only expresses that something exists or is located somewhere.
Why is kecil placed after kucing rather than before it?
In Indonesian, adjectives follow the nouns they modify. So kucing kecil literally reads “cat small,” which in English word order becomes “small cat.”
Why aren’t there articles like a or the before kucing kecil?
Indonesian does not use definite or indefinite articles. Context and quantifiers (like beberapa for “some”) clarify whether you’re talking about a specific or general noun.
What is the role of di in di halaman belakang?
di is a locative preposition meaning “in,” “on,” or “at.” Here it marks the location where the cat exists: the backyard.
Can I change the word order to Kucing kecil ada di halaman belakang? Does it change the meaning?
Yes, that word order is perfectly natural. Starting with kucing kecil shifts emphasis onto the cat itself, but the overall sense remains “There is a small cat in the backyard.”
How would you turn this statement into a question in Indonesian?
You have two main options:
• Use rising intonation: Ada kucing kecil di halaman belakang?
• Add apakah for a formal question: Apakah ada kucing kecil di halaman belakang?
How do I express that there is more than one cat? How do you pluralize kucing?
kucing can be singular or plural depending on context. To make it explicitly plural, you can:
• Use numbers: Dua kucing kecil (“two small cats”)
• Use quantifiers: Beberapa kucing kecil (“some small cats”)
• (Less common here) Use reduplication: kucing-kucing kecil.