Pensil warna saya ada di laci meja.

My colored pencils are in the desk drawer.

Breakdown of Pensil warna saya ada di laci meja.

• di: in
• saya: my
• ada: to be
• pensil warna: the colored pencil
• laci meja: the desk drawer

Questions & Answers about Pensil warna saya ada di laci meja.

Is this singular or plural?

Indonesian doesn’t mark number on nouns, so pensil warna can mean either “colored pencil” or “colored pencils.” To make it explicit, add:

• a number: satu/dua/tiga pensil warna
• a quantifier: beberapa (some), banyak (many)
• a measure: satu set/kotak pensil warna (a set/box of colored pencils)

Why does the possessor saya come after the noun?

In Indonesian, possessive pronouns follow the noun: pensil warna saya = “my colored pencil(s).” Alternatives:

• Attach the clitic -ku to the noun: pensil warnaku
• For “your” and “his/her,” use -mu and -nya: pensil warnamu, pensil warnanya

What does ada do here?

Ada expresses existence/presence and is used for location: pattern X ada di Y (“X is/are at/in Y”). It is not the same as adalah, which links two nouns (e.g., “X is a Y”) and is not used with places.

Can I omit ada and say “Pensil warna saya di laci meja”?

Yes. In casual speech you’ll often hear it without ada, and it’s understood. Including ada is more standard and explicit, especially in careful speech or writing.

What’s the difference between di, di dalam, ke, and dari?

• di = at/in/on (static location): di laci
• di dalam = inside (adds emphasis): di dalam laci (“inside the drawer”)
• ke = to/toward (movement): ke laci
• dari = from (source): dari laci
  You may also see pada in formal contexts for “at/on” with abstract objects or times.

Why is it di laci meja and not di laci dari meja?

Indonesian prefers noun–noun compounds for “of/’s” relationships: laci meja (“desk drawer”). Dari (“from/of”) isn’t used here; laci dari meja sounds unnatural in this sense.

How do I make “the desk drawer” explicit when Indonesian has no articles?

Definiteness is usually from context. To mark it explicitly, you can use:

• -nya: di lacinya, di laci mejanya (“in the [context-known] drawer/desk drawer”)
• itu: di laci meja itu (“in that desk’s drawer”)

Is meja a table or a desk? Should I say meja tulis/kerja?

Meja can mean table or desk depending on context. If you want to be explicit:

• meja tulis / meja kerja = desk
• meja makan = dining table
  Laci meja is naturally understood as a desk drawer.

Is pensil warna the normal way to say “colored pencils”? What about pensil berwarna or pensil warna-warni?

• Pensil warna is the standard term for colored pencil(s)/a colored-pencil set.
• Pensil berwarna is grammatical but less common as a product name; it can sound like “a pencil that is colored.”
• Pensil warna-warni emphasizes variety (“colorful/multicolored pencils”).
  For crayons, use krayon.

How do I say “in my desk drawer” specifically?

Say di laci meja saya (formal/neutral) or di laci mejaku (informal, using -ku). The possessor follows the noun it owns: meja saya, not before it.

How do I count pencils naturally?

Just put the number before the noun: dua pensil warna (“two colored pencils”). You can also specify sets/containers:

• satu set/kotak pensil warna (a set/box of colored pencils)

Can I front the location, like “Di laci meja ada pensil warna saya”? Any nuance?

Yes. Di laci meja ada… is an existential structure and puts focus on the location or on what exists there. It’s great when answering “What’s in the drawer?” The original order suits “Where are my colored pencils?”

What’s the difference between saya, aku, and the clitic -ku here?

• saya: neutral/formal “I/my”
• aku: informal/intimate “I/my”
• -ku: enclitic “my” attached to a noun: mejaku, pensil warnaku
  All are common; choose based on formality and relationship.

Could I use berada instead of ada?

Yes: Pensil warna saya berada di laci meja is acceptable and a bit more formal. Ada is more common in everyday speech.

Does ada ever mean “to have”?

In colloquial Indonesian you might hear Saya ada pensil warna (“I have colored pencils”). In standard Indonesian, use punya or memiliki: Saya punya/memiliki pensil warna.

Any spelling pitfalls with di?

Yes. As a preposition (location), di is written separately: di laci, di meja. It’s attached only when it’s a passive verb prefix: diambil, ditaruh. Don’t write dilaci or dimeja in this sentence.