Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ibu meletakkan piring bersih di meja.

Mother (a kinship term), often interpreted as “my mother” in a family context even without saya/-ku.
A respectful form of address for an adult woman (Ma’am/Mrs). It’s capitalized here because it starts the sentence; it’s also often capitalized when used as an honorific. Lowercase ibu is the common noun “mother.”

How do I say “my mother” explicitly?

Use Ibu saya or ibuku. Both mean “my mother.” Ibu saya is neutral/formal; ibuku is more intimate/literary. Bare Ibu can also mean “my mom” if the context is clear.

What is the verb meletakkan made from, and what does -kan do?

It’s root letak (location/to be located) + prefix me- + suffix -kan. The -kan makes it causative-transitive: “to cause something to be at a place” → “to put/place (something).”

Why the double kk in meletakkan? Is meletakan ever correct?

Standard Indonesian writes meletakkan with double k because the root ends in -k (letak) and the suffix -kan begins with k: letak + -kan → letakkan. So: meletakkan, not meletakan.

Could I use menaruh instead of meletakkan? Any nuance?

Yes. Menaruh also means “to put/place” and is common (a bit more casual). Meletakkan can suggest putting something down in a particular position. Informal speech often uses naruh. All are fine in this sentence.

Why use di and not ke before meja?

With placement verbs (meletakkan/menaruh), use di to mark the final location: … di meja. Ke marks motion toward a destination and is used with verbs like pergi/bawa: Ibu membawa piring bersih ke meja.

Should it be di atas meja instead of di meja?

Di atas meja explicitly means “on top of the table.” Di meja can mean “on the table” or “at the table” depending on context; many speakers say di meja for “on the table.” Use di atas meja if you want to be unambiguous.

Why is the adjective after the noun in piring bersih? Can I say piring yang bersih?

Adjectives normally follow nouns in Indonesian: piring bersih = “clean plate(s).” Piring yang bersih also works; it can sound more specific/emphatic or is preferred when the modifier is long/complex.

Is piring singular or plural here?

Unspecified—Indonesian doesn’t mark number by default. To specify:

Singular: sebuah piring bersih / satu piring bersih
Plural: piring-piring bersih, beberapa piring bersih, banyak piring bersih

How do I say “the clean plate(s)”?

Add a demonstrative or definite marker:

piring bersih itu = “that/the clean plate(s)”
piring bersih ini = “this/the clean plate(s)”
piring bersihnya can function as “the clean plate(s)” (or “his/her clean plate(s)”), depending on context.

Does meletakkan require an object?

Yes, it’s transitive: meletakkan piring. You can use a clitic pronoun: meletakkannya = “put it.” Omitting the object is okay only if it’s recoverable from context.

How would I say this in the passive?

Common passive patterns:

Piring bersih diletakkan (oleh) Ibu di meja. (di- passive; oleh often omitted)
Short passive with a pronoun agent: Piring bersih saya letakkan di meja. (With a full noun like Ibu, prefer the di- passive above.)

Is di here a preposition or a prefix? How can I tell?

In di meja, di is a preposition and is written separately. As a verbal prefix it attaches to the verb: diletakkan. Rule: preposition di + place word = separate; prefix di- + verb root = one word.

How do I show tense/aspect (past, ongoing, future) with this sentence?

Add time/aspect markers:

Completed/past: sudah/telah, tadi/barusan → Ibu sudah meletakkan…
Progressive: sedang → Ibu sedang meletakkan…
Future/intended: akan/ma(u) → Ibu akan meletakkan…

Can I move the place phrase to the front?

Yes: Di meja, Ibu meletakkan piring bersih. Fronting di meja adds focus on the location; the meaning stays the same.

Is mengletakkan ever correct?

No. The correct form is meletakkan. With a root starting in l, the active prefix is me-, not meng-.