Questions & Answers about Saya simpan masker di tas saya.
Is Saya simpan … correct, or should it be Saya menyimpan …?
Both are acceptable, but the register differs:
- Saya menyimpan masker di tas saya. = standard/neutral, good for writing and formal speech.
- Saya simpan masker di tas saya. = common in conversation and headlines; the meN- prefix is dropped. It’s fine in everyday speech but less formal.
What tense is it? Does it mean I kept, I keep, or I will keep?
Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on verbs. Saya simpan… can mean past, present, or future depending on context. Add time/aspect words if needed:
- Past: Saya sudah/baru saja menyimpan masker di tas saya.
- Present progressive: Saya sedang menyimpan masker di tas saya. (formal) / Saya lagi nyimpen masker di tas saya. (informal)
- Future: Saya akan/nanti saya menyimpan masker di tas saya.
Is masker singular or plural here? How do I say “a mask,” “the mask,” or “masks”?
By default it’s number-neutral. To be explicit:
- A/one mask: satu masker (or sebuah masker, less common), often just masker if context is clear.
- The mask: masker itu or maskernya (definite/previously known).
- Masks: masker (context), or mark it with beberapa masker, banyak masker, or masker-masker (reduplication, more formal/literary).