Questions & Answers about Saya melihat poster di perpustakaan.
What does "Saya" mean, and is it formal or casual?
It means "I/me." Saya is neutral and polite; use it with strangers, elders, and in writing. Informal options include aku (friendly/intimate) and Jakarta slang gue/gua. All are grammatical: Saya melihat..., Aku melihat..., Gue lihat... (the last is very casual).
Why is it "melihat" and not just "lihat"?
The prefix meN- makes an active transitive verb from the base lihat (see), so melihat = “to see/look at (something).” In standard style you use melihat. In casual speech people often drop the prefix: Saya lihat poster..., and Lihat! is the imperative “Look!”
Do I need an article like “a” or “the” before “poster”?
Indonesian has no articles. poster can mean “a poster” or “the poster” depending on context. To be explicit, use:
- poster itu = that/the poster
- poster ini = this poster
- sebuah poster = a single poster
Should I add "sebuah" before "poster"?
It’s optional. Saya melihat poster di perpustakaan is natural and usually reads as “I saw a poster.” Saya melihat sebuah poster... emphasizes “one poster” and feels a bit more formal. For exact counting, use numbers: satu poster, ; the classifier is optional for many inanimate nouns.