Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Pada awal rapat, kami membahas jadwal. - At the start of the meeting, we discuss the schedule.

Pada marks a time/abstract point, roughly like at. Both Pada awal rapat and Di awal rapat are acceptable; pada is a bit more formal/standard, di is very common in everyday speech.

Why is it awal rapat and not awal dari rapat?

Indonesian often expresses an of-relationship by placing two nouns together: awal rapat. awal dari rapat is usually unnecessary and can sound wordy; use dari mainly with pronouns or when you need extra clarity in long phrases.

Can I move Pada awal rapat to the end? Is the comma required?

Yes: Kami membahas jadwal pada awal rapat is fine. The comma after a fronted time phrase is recommended for clarity but not strictly required.

How do we know it’s past? Do we need sudah or telah?

Indonesian verbs don’t change for tense; context supplies time. To make completion explicit, add sudah (neutral/common) or telah (formal): Pada awal rapat, kami sudah/telah membahas jadwal. For recent-past nuance, you can add tadi or barusan.

What’s the difference between kami and kita?

Kami excludes the listener; kita includes the listener. Reporting to someone who wasn’t in the meeting: use kami. Speaking to fellow participants: kita fits better.

What’s the nuance of membahas compared with mendiskusikan, berdiskusi tentang, and membicarakan?

membahas + object: to discuss/analyze; neutral and common in formal contexts (e.g., membahas jadwal).
mendiskusikan + object: to discuss; slightly more formal/technical.
berdiskusi tentang + noun: to have a discussion about; intransitive, needs tentang.
membicarakan + object: to talk about; often more casual or about people/issues.

Should I say membahas tentang jadwal?

Avoid it in formal writing; membahas already takes a direct object, so tentang is redundant. In casual speech you may hear it, but prefer membahas jadwal or berdiskusi tentang jadwal.

What is the base form of membahas, and why mem-?

The root is bahas. The meN- prefix forms an active transitive verb; before b, meN- surfaces as mem-, giving membahas.

Can I make it passive?

Yes: Pada awal rapat, jadwal dibahas. You can also use the short passive: Pada awal rapat, jadwal kami bahas. These forms foreground the topic and are common in formal reports.

Is jadwal the same as agenda?

Not exactly. Jadwal is the timetable or schedule (times/sequence). Agenda is the list of topics. Use membahas agenda rapat for topics, membahas jadwal for timing.

How do I make the schedule definite or show possession?

Add -nya: membahas jadwalnya (the schedule, context-known).
Add a possessor: membahas jadwal kami (our schedule), jadwal rapat (the meeting’s schedule).
Use demonstratives: jadwal itu (that schedule), jadwal ini (this schedule).

What’s the difference between rapat and pertemuan?

Rapat is a formal meeting (work/organizational). Pertemuan is broader, any meeting/encounter, formal or informal.

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

rapat ends with an unreleased t; keep it short and unaspirated.
jadwal has a clear dw cluster: jad-wal.
membahas pronounces the h clearly; vowels are pure and evenly timed.

Is there a more casual way to say it?

Yes: Di awal rapat, kita bahas jadwal. This uses di and the bare verb bahas, both common in colloquial speech. For formal writing, prefer Pada awal rapat, kami membahas jadwal.

Could I say Pada awalnya, kami membahas jadwal?

Yes, but the nuance shifts. Pada awalnya means initially or at first in general, while Pada awal rapat ties the time specifically to the meeting’s beginning.