Breakdown of Pertandingan tenis dimulai pukul dua siang.
dua
two
dimulai
to be started
pukul
at
pertandingan tenis
the tennis match
Questions & Answers about Pertandingan tenis dimulai pukul dua siang.
What does Pertandingan tenis mean and how is pertandingan function in that phrase?
Pertandingan tenis literally means “tennis match.” Here pertandingan is a noun meaning “match” or “competition,” and it combines with tenis (“tennis”) to specify which kind of match. You can swap tenis for another sport: e.g. pertandingan sepak bola (“football match”).
Why is dimulai in passive voice? Could I also say mulai instead?
Both mulai and dimulai come from the same root “to start.”
- Pertandingan tenis dimulai uses the passive form (with prefix di-) to focus on the fact that the match “is started” at a certain time.
- You can absolutely say Pertandingan tenis mulai pukul dua siang (active) and it will still mean “The tennis match starts at 2 PM.” The difference is mostly stylistic and emphasis.
Why do we use pukul before the time? Is it necessary?
Pukul functions like “o’clock” or “at” in time expressions. It’s standard in formal or neutral contexts:
- pukul dua (“at two o’clock”)
- pukul delapan malam (“at eight in the evening”)
In casual speech you might hear jam dua, but pukul is more universal and often preferred when giving schedules.
What role does siang play in pukul dua siang? Can I drop it?