Anak perempuan itu bermain di halaman.

That girl plays in the yard.

Breakdown of Anak perempuan itu bermain di halaman.

• itu: that
• di: in
• bermain: to play
• halaman: the yard
• anak perempuan: the girl

Questions & Answers about Anak perempuan itu bermain di halaman.

What does the word itu do in this sentence?

It’s a demonstrative that marks definiteness. Anak perempuan itu means “that girl” or “the girl” (a specific girl known from context). Indonesian has no articles like “the/a,” so speakers often use itu (that) to signal “the.”

Where do ini and itu go in a noun phrase?

They come after the noun (or the whole noun phrase):

• Anak perempuan ini = this girl
• Anak perempuan itu = that/the girl If there’s an adjective, ini/itu still comes at the end:
• Anak perempuan kecil itu = that little girl

Can I just drop itu? What changes?

Yes. Anak perempuan bermain di halaman would usually be understood as “A girl is playing in the yard” (non-specific). Adding itu makes it specific/definite: “the/that girl.”

Is bermain a present tense form (“is playing”)?

Indonesian verbs don’t change for tense. Bermain just means “play/playing/played,” depending on context. Use markers if you need to be explicit:

• Progressive: sedang → Anak perempuan itu sedang bermain (is playing now)
• Past/completed: sudah → (has already played)
• Future: akan → (will play) Time words (e.g., tadi, kemarin, besok) also clarify tense.

Why bermain and not main or memainkan?

• bermain = to play (intransitive, no direct object): bermain di halaman
• main = colloquial form of bermain; common in speech: lagi main di halaman
• memainkan = to play something (transitive): memainkan piano, memainkan peran (“play a role”)

What’s the function of di in di halaman?

Di marks a static location (“at/in/on”). Use:

• di = at/in/on a place: di halaman (in the yard)
• ke = to (movement toward): ke halaman (to the yard)
• dalam = inside (interior): di dalam rumah (inside the house)

Does halaman mean “yard” or “page”?

Both, depending on context.

• Here, halaman = yard/courtyard (default if talking about playing).
• For “page,” you’d usually say halaman (buku), often with a number: halaman 10.
  To be extra clear for “yard at home,” say halaman rumah or pekarangan (more formal/neutral).

How would I make it plural: “The girls are playing in the yard”?

Several options:

• Anak-anak perempuan itu bermain di halaman. (explicit plural via reduplication)
• Para anak perempuan itu bermain di halaman. (more formal; “para” marks a group of people) Context can also imply plural without marking, but anak-anak is the most common explicit way.

How do I say “this girl” vs. “that girl”?

• Anak perempuan ini = this girl (near the speaker)
• Anak perempuan itu = that girl/the girl (farther or already known)

How do I say “the little girl is playing in the yard”?

• Anak perempuan kecil itu sedang bermain di halaman. Notes:
• Adjectives follow the noun: anak (perempuan) kecil.
• Add sedang if you want to emphasize the ongoing action.

Could I start the sentence with the place for emphasis?

Yes. Topicalization is natural:

• Di halaman, anak perempuan itu bermain. (In the yard, the girl is playing.) The meaning is the same; you’re just emphasizing the location.

Is di written together or separate from the next word?

As a preposition, di is written separately: di halaman, di rumah.
As a passive prefix, di- attaches to the verb with no space: dibaca, ditulis. Different functions, different spacing.

Does anak perempuan also mean “daughter”?

Yes. Anak perempuan = girl/female child; with possession it means “daughter”:

• anak perempuan saya = my daughter
• anak perempuannya = his/her daughter
  Without a possessor, it’s normally understood as “a (female) child / a girl.”

Are there other words for “girl,” and how do they differ?

• Anak perempuan: neutral, broad (female child/girl)
• Gadis: “maiden/young unmarried woman,” literary/formal; often older than a small child
• Cewek: informal/slang for “girl”
• Putri: “daughter” (formal) or “princess” Choose based on formality and age.

Any pronunciation tips for perempuan and bermain?

• perempuan: four syllables pe-rem-pu-an. The first e is a schwa-like sound /ə/. The r is a tap.
• bermain: ber-ma-in (the “ai” is pronounced as two vowels a+i, not like English “ay”).
• anak: final k is often produced as a glottal stop in casual speech.
  Stress is typically on the penultimate syllable.

How would I ask “Where is the girl playing?”

Two natural patterns:

• Di mana anak perempuan itu bermain?
• Anak perempuan itu bermain di mana?
  Both are common; placing di mana at the end is very natural in conversation.

If I want “garden/park” instead of “yard,” what word should I use?

• taman = garden/park (public or decorative garden): bermain di taman
• kebun = garden/orchard/vegetable patch: bermain di kebun
• halaman = yard/courtyard (house yard): bermain di halaman (rumah)