Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Murid-murid antusias belajar di perpustakaan. - The students are enthusiastic about studying in the library.

The hyphen shows reduplication, which is one common way to make plurals in Indonesian. murid-murid literally means “students” (more than one murid) without adding a separate plural word.

Why isn’t there a word for “are” (the copula) between murid-murid and antusias? Could we insert adalah?

In present‐tense Indonesian the copula is usually omitted—linking is understood. You can add adalah for a more formal or written style (Murid-murid adalah antusias…), but everyday speech skips it.

What role does antusias play here? Does it describe the students or the action of studying?

Though antusias is an adjective by origin, when placed before a verb like belajar it functions like an adverb: “enthusiastically.” So the phrase antusias belajar means “enthusiastic about studying,” and together they form the predicate for murid-murid.

How do we know this is happening right now? Why isn’t there a tense marker?

Indonesian doesn’t have verb conjugations for past, present, or future. Time is inferred from context or added time words. To emphasize the progressive aspect (“right now”), you can insert sedang:
Murid-murid sedang antusias belajar di perpustakaan.

What does di perpustakaan mean? Could we say dalam perpustakaan instead?

di is the locative preposition covering “in,” “at,” or “on.” di perpustakaan means “at/in the library.” You may say di dalam perpustakaan to stress “inside the library,” but di perpustakaan is more concise and common.

Why isn’t there an article like “the” before perpustakaan?

Indonesian has no articles (a, an, the). Definiteness is clear from context. If you need to point out “that library,” you can add a demonstrative: di perpustakaan itu (“at that library”) or di perpustakaan ini (“at this library”).

Can I use para murid instead of murid-murid? Are they the same?

Yes. para murid also indicates a group of students and sounds more formal or literary. murid-murid is the standard colloquial way to show the plural.

How is perpustakaan formed? What do its parts mean?

Breakdown:
• per- (prefix indicating a place or instrument)
• pustaka (root meaning “book,” “collection of writings”)
• -an (suffix that often turns a root into a noun/place)
Together perpustakaan literally means “a place for books” → “library.”

What’s the difference between murid and siswa?

Both translate as “student.” murid is often used for students under a teacher’s direct guidance (especially in primary or informal settings), while siswa is more formal and generally used in school contexts (especially secondary level).