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Questions & Answers about Guru memuji tim kami.
Does this mean “the teacher” or “a teacher”?
It can mean either. Indonesian has no articles.
- “The teacher”: understood from context, or say guru itu / guru tersebut.
- “A teacher”: say seorang guru. Example: Seorang guru memuji tim kami. = A teacher praised our team.
Is the verb tense past, present, or future?
Indonesian verbs don’t change for tense. Context or time words show time.
- Past: Guru tadi/sudah/baru saja memuji tim kami.
- Present (ongoing): Guru sedang memuji tim kami.
- Future: Guru akan memuji tim kami.
Is “guru” singular or plural here? What about “tim”?
By default it’s ambiguous; context decides.
- Explicit plural for people: para guru or guru-guru = teachers.
- “Team” is usually singular: tim. For multiple teams: tim-tim or semua tim kami. Examples:
- Para guru memuji tim kami. = The teachers praised our team.
- Guru memuji tim-tim kami. = The teacher praised our teams.
What is the verb root of “memuji,” and how is it formed?
The root is puji (praise). The active transitive form uses the meN- prefix:
- meN- + puji → memuji (the initial p drops and the prefix surfaces as mem-). Handy pattern:
- p → mem- (p drops): memakai (from pakai), memuji (puji)
- t → men- (t drops): menulis (tulis)
- k → meng- (k drops): mengirim (kirim)
- s → meny- (s drops): menyapu (sapu)
How do I say this in the passive voice?
Use the passive prefix di- on the verb:
- Tim kami dipuji (oleh) guru. You can omit oleh if the agent is clear: Tim kami dipuji guru or simply Tim kami dipuji.
Can I front the object to emphasize “our team”?
In active voice you don’t just move it; use a focus construction or passive:
- Focus with yang: Tim kamilah yang dipuji guru.
- Passive: Tim kami dipuji (oleh) guru. These put emphasis on “our team.”
What’s the difference between “kami” and “kita”?
Both mean “we/our,” but:
- kami = exclusive (does NOT include the listener)
- kita = inclusive (includes the listener) So:
- Guru memuji tim kami. = The listener is not on the team.
- Guru memuji tim kita. = The listener is part of the team.
Why “tim kami” (noun + pronoun)? Could I say “kami tim”?
Possessors follow the noun: tim kami = our team. You can’t say kami tim for possession. Also, there’s no suffix “-kami” in Indonesian; only -ku (my), -mu (your), -nya (his/her/its).
- Correct: tim kami
- Incorrect: kami tim (would read more like “we (are) a team” if you added a copula: Kami (adalah) tim)
Do I need a preposition like “to” (kepada) after “memuji”?
No. Memuji takes a direct object:
- Guru memuji tim kami. If you want a “to,” use the noun form:
- Guru memberi pujian kepada tim kami. = The teacher gave praise to our team.
How do I say what the praise is for?
Use:
- atas
- noun phrase: Guru memuji tim kami atas kerja keras kami.
- karena
- clause: Guru memuji tim kami karena kami bekerja keras.
How do I negate it?
Use tidak before the verb:
- Guru tidak memuji tim kami. For contrastive “not … but …,” use bukan:
- Bukan memuji, melainkan mengkritik.
Any pronunciation tips or common confusions?
- guru = [goo-roo]
- memuji = [muh-MOO-jee] (j as in “judge,” stress typically on the penultimate syllable) Common mix-ups:
- memuji (to praise) vs menguji (to test) vs memuja (to adore/worship)
How would I address a specific teacher respectfully?
Use titles:
- Male: Pak (short for Bapak) → Pak Andi memuji tim kami.
- Female: Bu (short for Ibu) → Bu Sari memuji tim kami. You may also hear Pak/Bu Guru in school contexts.
Is there a casual/colloquial version?
In informal speech, speakers may drop the meN- prefix:
- Guru muji tim kami. This is common in casual Indonesian, but keep memuji in formal or written contexts.
Can I shorten it to “The teacher praised us”?
Yes. Drop “tim” and use the pronoun:
- Guru memuji kami. Use kami vs kita the same way as above (exclusive vs inclusive).