Dia menolak ikut karena sedang sakit.

he/she

Breakdown of Dia menolak ikut karena sedang sakit.

• karena: because
• sedang: currently
• ikut: to join

Questions & Answers about Dia menolak ikut karena sedang sakit.

Does the pronoun dia specify gender?

No. Dia is gender-neutral and can mean he or she. Context tells you which. For a respected person, use beliau. In formal writing you may see ia (subject position only).

Why are there two verbs in a row (menolak ikut)? Don’t I need “to” before the second verb?

Indonesian commonly uses a verb followed by another bare verb as its complement. Menolak ikut literally “refused join,” i.e., “refused to join.” No linker like “to” is needed.

Do I need untuk before ikut (i.e., menolak untuk ikut)?

It’s optional. Menolak ikut is very common and natural. Menolak untuk ikut sounds a bit more formal/emphatic, but both are correct.

Can I say menolak untuk mengikuti instead of menolak ikut?

Yes, when you specify what is being joined: menolak untuk mengikuti lomba/rapat (refused to participate in the competition/meeting). Mengikuti is transitive and normally expects an object; without one, prefer ikut.

Why can the second dia be omitted in karena sedang sakit? Should I repeat the subject?