Pagi ini langit mendung.

to be

Breakdown of Pagi ini langit mendung.

• pagi ini: this morning
• langit: the sky
• mendung: overcast

Questions & Answers about Pagi ini langit mendung.

Why is it pagi ini and not ini pagi?

In Indonesian, demonstratives like ini (this) usually come after the noun: pagi ini = “this morning.” The same pattern appears in malam ini (tonight), hari ini (today), bulan ini (this month). Saying ini pagi sounds unnatural in Indonesian.

Can I put the time at the end, like Langit mendung pagi ini?

Yes. Both Pagi ini, langit mendung and Langit mendung pagi ini are natural. Putting the time first is common to set the scene; putting it last adds afterthought emphasis to the time.

Where is the English “is”? Why isn’t there adalah?

Indonesian often uses adjectives as predicates without a verb “to be.” So Langit mendung literally “Sky overcast” = “The sky is overcast.” The linking word adalah is used mainly between nouns (e.g., Dia adalah guru). You should not say Langit adalah mendung.

Is mendung an adjective or a verb? It looks like it has a men- prefix.

Mendung is an adjective meaning “overcast/gloomy (sky).” It is not a verb and does not contain the meN- prefix—its root is simply mendung.