Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya mengambil piring dari lemari.

meN- forms an active transitive verb from the base ambil (take). It marks that the subject actively performs the action. Before a vowel (as in ambil), meN- surfaces as meng-, hence mengambil.

Can I say Saya ambil piring dari lemari instead of Saya mengambil…?

Yes. The bare verb ambil is common in speech, especially after modals or in imperatives. All are natural:

Saya mengambil piring dari lemari. (more formal/neutral)
Saya ambil piring dari lemari. (colloquial)
Ambil piring dari lemari. (imperative)

How do I show past, present, or future? Indonesian has no verb tenses, right?

Correct—time is shown with adverbs/aspect markers:

Past: Saya sudah mengambil piring… / Tadi saya mengambil piring…
Progressive: Saya sedang mengambil piring…
Future: Saya akan mengambil piring… / Saya mau ambil piring…

Why use dari here? Could I say di?

dari = from (origin/source): Saya mengambil piring dari lemari.
di = at/in (location): Ambil piring di lemari is common in speech and means “take the plate that’s in the cupboard,” but dari explicitly marks the movement “from.”

How do I say “a plate” vs. “the plate”?

Indonesian has no articles. piring can mean a/the plate. To make it definite:

piring itu (that/the plate)
piringnya (the plate; or his/her plate, depending on context)
piring tersebut (that plate, formal)

How do I make it plural, like “plates”?

Use numbers or quantifiers:

dua piring (two plates)
beberapa piring (several plates)
banyak piring (many plates) Reduplication piring-piring also marks plural, often in writing or when emphasizing variety.

Do I need a classifier, like sebuah piring?

Not required. satu piring is most natural for “one plate.” sebuah piring is acceptable but less common in everyday speech. Note sepiring means “a plateful of (food),” e.g., sepiring nasi.

What exactly does lemari mean?

A general cupboard/cabinet/wardrobe. Common compounds:

lemari pakaian (wardrobe)
lemari es / kulkas (refrigerator)
lemari dapur / lemari piring (kitchen cupboard/dish cabinet)

Can I omit Saya?

Yes, if context is clear:

(Saya) mengambil piring dari lemari. As an answer to “What are you doing?” you can say Mengambil piring dari lemari.

How do I say “I took it from the cupboard”?

Use the enclitic -nya:

Saya mengambilnya dari lemari. Don’t use dia for inanimate “it.” -nya can mean him/her/it or act as a definite marker.

How do I make this passive?

Two common passives:

Piring diambil dari lemari (oleh saya).
Piringnya saya ambil dari lemari. (object fronted; very natural) The agent with oleh is optional and often omitted.

Is the word order flexible?

Basic is S-V-O-(PP): Saya mengambil piring dari lemari. You can front the PP for emphasis: Dari lemari, saya mengambil piring, but it sounds marked. Avoid Saya mengambil dari lemari piring; it’s unnatural.

How do I ask politely for someone to get a plate?

Add tolong and often use the benefactive -kan:

Tolong ambilkan piring dari lemari.
Bisa tolong ambilkan piring dari lemari? ambilkan = take/get something for someone.

What’s the difference between mengambil, mengeluarkan, and memindahkan?

mengambil: take/get something.
mengeluarkan: take something out (focus on exiting a container): Mengeluarkan piring dari lemari.
memindahkan: move/transfer from A to B (specify destination): Memindahkan piring dari lemari ke meja.

Any pronunciation tips for these words?

mengambil: məng-AM-bil (ng as in sing; primary stress tends to be on the penultimate syllable)
piring: PI-ring (final ng = [ŋ])
dari: DA-ri
lemari: lə-MA-ri (the first e is a schwa [ə]); Indonesian r is tapped.

How do I say “from inside the cupboard”?

Use dari dalam for emphasis:

Saya mengambil piring dari dalam lemari. (from inside the cupboard)

How do I express future with modals naturally?

Colloquially, mau is very common:

Saya mau ambil piring dari lemari. More formal/planned: Saya akan mengambil piring dari lemari.

Is di (in di lemari) the same as the passive prefix di- (as in diambil)?

No. di (separate word) is a preposition meaning “at/in.” di- (attached to a verb) is the passive prefix: diambil (is/was taken). Compare:

di lemari (in the cupboard)
diambil (taken)