Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kurir mengantar paket ke kantor pusat pagi ini. - The courier delivers a package to the head office this morning.

Both. Mengantar means to accompany/see someone off or to take/deliver someone/something to a destination. In a courier context, it’s naturally understood as “to deliver (by taking it there in person).”

What’s the difference between mengantar and mengantarkan?

Both are correct and often interchangeable.

Mengantar X ke Y = take/deliver X to Y.
Mengantarkan X ke Y = same core meaning; the suffix -kan can add a slight nuance of “causing X to reach Y” and sounds a bit more formal in some ears. In everyday speech, you’ll hear both with no real difference: Kurir mengantar/mengantarkan paket ke kantor pusat.

Why is the prefix meng- used here? What’s the base word?

The base word is antar (“take/escort/deliver”). The active verb prefix meN- changes form based on the first letter of the root:

Before a vowel (like a in antar), it becomes meng- → mengantar.

Why ke and not di, kepada, or untuk?

ke = to/toward (movement to a place): ke kantor pusat.
di = at/in (location, no movement): di kantor pusat.
kepada = to (a person as recipient): kepada manajer.
untuk = for (intended for/beneficiary): paket untuk manajer. So delivery to a place takes ke.

Can I move pagi ini to another position?

Yes. Time expressions are flexible:

Pagi ini, kurir mengantar paket ke kantor pusat.
Kurir mengantar paket ke kantor pusat pagi ini. Fronting it adds emphasis to the time. End position is very common.

Should I say pagi ini or tadi pagi for “this morning”?

pagi ini = this morning (often used while it’s still morning).
tadi pagi = earlier this morning (commonly used later in the day to refer back). If it’s afternoon/evening now, tadi pagi usually sounds more natural.

Does Indonesian mark past tense? How would I stress that it’s already done?

Indonesian doesn’t inflect verbs for tense. Time words do the work. To stress completion, add:

sudah (already): Kurir sudah mengantar paket...
telah (already; formal), or barusan/baru saja (just now), as needed.

Is paket singular or plural here? How do I show plurality?

It’s unmarked—could be one or several. To show plural, use:

Reduplication: paket-paket.
Quantifiers: beberapa paket (several), dua paket (two), etc.

How do I say “the courier” or “the package” specifically?

Use context or the enclitic -nya for definiteness/familiarity:

Kurirnya mengantar paket... = the/that courier delivered...
paketnya = the/that package. It can also mean possession depending on context.

How do I make it passive, like “The package was delivered ...”?

Common passive forms:

Formal: Paket diantar (oleh kurir) ke kantor pusat pagi ini.
Natural, agent without oleh: Paket diantar kurir ke kantor pusat pagi ini.
Colloquial agent marker: Paketnya diantar sama kurir... Use oleh in formal writing; dropping it is frequent in speech.

How would I give a command like “Deliver the package to head office!”?

Use the base verb or the -kan form:

Antar paket itu ke kantor pusat!
Antarkan paket itu ke kantor pusat! To soften it: Tolong antar/antarkan paket itu ke kantor pusat.

Can the subject be omitted?

Yes, if context makes it clear:

(Dia) mengantar paket ke kantor pusat pagi ini.
In instructions or headlines, you’ll often see subjectless clauses, but in normal sentences including the subject helps clarity.

Is kurir the only word for courier? What about pengantar?

kurir = courier (standard, common for delivery personnel).
pengantar can mean “accompanier/escort” and in context can be “deliverer,” but it’s broader and less specific. For a delivery job, kurir is the safest choice.

What exactly is kantor pusat? How is it different from kantor cabang or markas?

kantor pusat = head office/headquarters (administrative center).
kantor cabang = branch office.
markas = headquarters/“base” (often for military or an organization’s base of operations; less corporate-sounding).