Celana itu terlalu besar, jadi dia pakai sabuk.

to be

Breakdown of Celana itu terlalu besar, jadi dia pakai sabuk.

• sebuah: a
• itu: that
• dia: he/she

Questions & Answers about Celana itu terlalu besar, jadi dia pakai sabuk.

Why is the demonstrative placed after the noun in celana itu instead of before it?

In Indonesian, demonstratives typically come after the noun: noun + ini/itu (this/that). So celana itu means “that/the pants (we’ve been talking about).” If itu comes before the noun, it usually acts as a standalone “that” starting a clause, e.g., Itu celana saya = “That is my pants.”

Does celana refer to one pair or multiple pairs? How do I make it plural?

• Celana refers to a single pair of pants by default. Indonesian doesn’t mark plural the way English does.
• To refer to multiple pairs, you can use context or markers:
  • banyak celana = many pairs of pants
  • beberapa celana = several pairs of pants
  • celana-celana = pants (multiple pairs), with reduplication for emphasis on plurality (more formal/written).
• If you need to count: satu (buah) celana or specify type: satu celana panjang. Don’t use sepasang with pants; that’s for things that truly come in pairs, like sepatu (shoes).

Could I also say Celana itu kebesaran? How does that differ from terlalu besar?

Yes.

• Terlalu besar = “too big,” emphasizing degree (excessive size).
• Kebesaran (ke- -an form) = “(is) too big” as a state/condition, and it’s very idiomatic for ill-fitting clothes. Both are correct. For clothing sizes, kebesaran/kekecilan sounds especially natural.