Breakdown of Saya pun tertawa setelah mendengar komentar teman itu.
itu
that
saya
I
teman
the friend
mendengar
to hear
setelah
after
tertawa
to laugh
komentar
the comment
pun
too
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Questions & Answers about Saya pun tertawa setelah mendengar komentar teman itu.
What does the particle pun add in Saya pun tertawa? How is it different from juga or bahkan?
- pun means “too/as well” and sometimes lightly “even,” with a slightly stylistic, literary, or emphatic tone. It often implies addition to something already mentioned: “I, too, laughed.”
- juga is the neutral “also/too.” No special emphasis: Saya juga tertawa.
- bahkan is “even” (strong emphasis): Bahkan saya tertawa. = “Even I laughed.” Summary: pun ≈ also/too with a subtle emphasis; juga = plain also; bahkan = even (stronger).
Where should pun go? Can I say Saya tertawa pun?
pun must immediately follow the word it emphasizes. So:
- Correct: Saya pun tertawa...
- Incorrect/unnatural: Saya tertawa pun... You can also attach it to other elements: Mereka pun tertawa (“They too laughed”).
Why is it setelah mendengar and not setelah saya mendengar? Are both correct?
Both are correct. Indonesian often omits the subject in the subordinate clause when it’s the same as the main subject.
- Neutral/concise: ... setelah mendengar komentar ...
- With explicit subject (slightly more emphatic/clear): ... setelah saya mendengar komentar ...
What’s the difference between mendengar and mendengarkan here?
- mendengar = “to hear.” It can be either accidental or intentional.
- mendengarkan = “to listen to,” more deliberate. In this sentence, both work. mendengar is slightly more common; mendengarkan emphasizes the act of listening.
Can I drop the prefix and say setelah dengar?
Yes, in casual speech you’ll hear setelah dengar... (or even abis denger...). In formal writing, prefer setelah mendengar.
How does possession work in komentar teman itu? Why is the possessor after the noun?
Indonesian places the possessor after the possessed noun:
- komentar teman itu = “that friend’s comment” / “the comment of that friend” You can also use dari:
- komentar dari teman itu (a bit more explicit, useful with longer noun phrases).
What exactly does teman itu mean?
teman itu = “that friend,” i.e., a specific friend identifiable from context (previously mentioned, visible, or otherwise known). It’s like a demonstrative “that/the aforementioned friend.” For “this friend,” use teman ini.
Does teman itu mean “my friend”? How would I say “my friend’s comment”?
teman itu does not mean “my friend.” To say “my friend’s comment,” use:
- komentar teman saya (neutral/polite), or
- komentar temanku (informal).
Could I move the time clause to the front: Setelah mendengar komentar teman itu, saya pun tertawa?
Yes. Both orders are natural:
- Saya pun tertawa setelah mendengar komentar teman itu.
- Setelah mendengar komentar teman itu, saya pun tertawa. Use a comma when the clause comes first.
Is tertawa formal? What about ketawa?
- tertawa is the standard/formal form.
- ketawa is informal/colloquial. A casual version of the sentence: Aku pun ketawa abis denger komen temen itu.
Are there synonyms for setelah?
Yes:
- sesudah (very common; near-synonym)
- seusai / usai (more formal/literary)
- sehabis / habis (colloquial) All mean “after,” with slight differences in formality.
Does this sentence mean past tense? Indonesian doesn’t mark tense—so how do we know?
Indonesian has no verb tense inflection. Sequence is shown by words like setelah (“after”). If needed, add time adverbs: tadi, kemarin, tadi malam, etc.
Why is it mendengar (with men-) and not some other form?
The prefix is meN-, which assimilates based on the first letter of the root. With roots starting in d (like dengar), meN- surfaces as men-, keeping the d: men + dengar → mendengar.
Can I say komentarnya instead of komentar teman itu?
- komentarnya = “his/her/their comment” or “the comment (definite).” It’s fine if the referent is already clear: setelah mendengar komentarnya, ...
- If you specifically mean “that friend’s comment,” komentar teman itu (or komentar dari teman itu) is clearer.
Is pun always written separately? I’ve seen forms like meskipun.
- After ordinary words (like saya), pun is written separately: saya pun.
- Some fixed forms are fused, e.g., meskipun, walaupun, sekalipun, adapun, bagaimanapun. Those are set expressions.
How else could I express “I joined in laughing” without pun?
Use ikut to highlight joining:
- Saya ikut tertawa setelah mendengar komentar teman itu. This emphasizes “I joined in,” while Saya pun tertawa emphasizes “I too/even.”