Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya memeriksa arsip sebelum rapat dimulai. - I check the archive before the meeting starts.

Aku: informal/intimate (friends, family).
Gue/Gw: very informal, Jakarta slang. Note: Kami and kita mean “we” (exclusive vs. inclusive), not “I.”

Why is it memeriksa and not periksa?

The root is periksa (“check/examine”). Adding the active prefix meN- makes a verb that takes an object: meN- + periksa → memeriksa (p assimilates to m). Periksa! is also used as an imperative “Check!”

Can I use cek or mengecek instead of memeriksa?

Yes, but they’re less formal.

memeriksa: inspect/examine (neutral–formal).
mengecek/cek: check (casual, often quick verification).
Other options by nuance: meninjau (review), menelaah (analyze), mengevaluasi (evaluate).

What exactly does arsip mean here?

Arsip can mean “archives,” but in many contexts it just means “records/files/documents.” Depending on context, you might also say dokumen, berkas, or file.

How do I make arsip plural?

Indonesian usually doesn’t mark plural. Context tells you. You can use:

Quantifiers: banyak arsip, beberapa arsip, dua arsip.
Collectives: semua arsip.
Reduplication (arsip-arsip) is possible in writing but often unnecessary.

What does sebelum do here? Does it need a full clause after it?

Sebelum = “before,” introducing a time expression. It can be followed by:

A noun phrase: sebelum rapat.
A clause: sebelum rapat dimulai (“before the meeting starts”). Both are correct; the clause is just more explicit.

Why rapat dimulai and not rapat mulai?

Both exist:

rapat dimulai: passive (“the meeting is started/gets started”), a bit more formal.
rapat mulai: intransitive “the meeting starts,” also fine and natural. To make it active with an agent: [X] memulai rapat (“X starts the meeting”).

Who is starting the meeting in rapat dimulai?

It’s unspecified (passive). You can add the agent with oleh: Rapat dimulai oleh ketua. More commonly, switch to active: Ketua memulai rapat.

Is the di in dimulai the same as the preposition di (as in di rumah)?

No. di- (attached, no space) is the passive prefix: di-mulai → dimulai. di (separate word) is the preposition “at/in/on”: di rumah. Don’t write di mulai here—that would be wrong.

Where can I place the sebelum phrase, and do I need a comma?

Both orders are fine:

End position (no comma): Saya memeriksa arsip sebelum rapat dimulai.
Fronted (use a comma): Sebelum rapat dimulai, saya memeriksa arsip.

Can I drop Saya?

Yes, if the subject is clear from context: Memeriksa arsip sebelum rapat dimulai. This is common in notes, headlines, or instructions. In normal sentences, keeping Saya avoids ambiguity.

How do I show past or future time? Indonesian has no tense marking here.

Use time words/particles:

Past: tadi, kemarin, sudah/telah (completed) → Saya sudah memeriksa arsip...
Future: akan, nanti, besok → Saya akan memeriksa arsip... Time adverbs often suffice without akan/sudah.

Can I use sebelumnya instead of sebelum?

They’re different:

sebelum = “before” (subordinator): ... sebelum rapat dimulai.
sebelumnya = “previously/before that” (adverb) or “the previous one”: Sebelumnya, saya memeriksa arsip.

Is dimulai using the suffix -i? What’s the base form?

The base is mulai.

Active transitive: memulai (“to start [something]”).
Passive: dimulai (“to be started/started”). There’s no extra suffix here; mulai already ends with “-ai.” Indonesian prefers memulai, not Malay-style memulakan.

Can I front the object: Arsip saya periksa sebelum rapat dimulai?

Yes. That’s a common “short passive”/object-fronting pattern, focusing the object. It’s natural in speech and writing. Alternatives:

Arsip diperiksa (oleh) saya sebelum rapat dimulai. (long passive, more formal)
Neutral active: Saya memeriksa arsip...

Any pronunciation or colloquial tips?

memeriksa is often pronounced more like meriksa in casual speech.
dimulai: “di-mu-lai” (ai as in “eye”).
rapat: the final t is pronounced.
arsip: “ar-sip,” with a clear p.