Aturan ujian jelas dan singkat.

to be

Breakdown of Aturan ujian jelas dan singkat.

• dan: and
• jelas: clear
• aturan ujian: the exam rule

Questions & Answers about Aturan ujian jelas dan singkat.

Why is there no verb like “to be” in this sentence?

Indonesian normally drops a linking verb before predicate adjectives. So Aturan ujian jelas dan singkat literally reads “Exam rules clear and concise,” which in English must be “The exam rules are clear and concise.”

• You usually do not use adalah before adjectives.
• Use adalah when the predicate is a noun: Aturan ujian adalah pedoman bagi peserta (The exam rules are guidelines for participants).

What exactly does aturan ujian mean structurally? Which word modifies which?

It’s a noun–noun compound where the head comes first:

• aturan = rule(s)
• ujian = exam
  Together, aturan ujian means “exam rules” (literally “rules of the exam”). Indonesian often uses noun–noun compounds instead of “of”-phrases.

How do I make it definite like “the exam rules” or “these exam rules”?

Indonesian has no articles, so use demonstratives or -nya:

• Aturan ujian itu = those/the exam rules (previously mentioned or contextually known).
• Aturan ujian ini = these exam rules (nearby or just introduced).
• Aturannya jelas dan singkat = the rules are clear and concise (context has already identified the rules).
• Aturan ujiannya jelas dan singkat = the rules of the exam (the exam is definite); by context this usually makes the whole phrase definite.