Breakdown of Kami butuh fokus agar tugas selesai.
adalah
to be
kami
we
agar
so that
selesai
finished
butuh
to need
tugas
the task
fokus
the focus
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Questions & Answers about Kami butuh fokus agar tugas selesai.
Why is it kami and not kita?
- kami = we (excluding the listener). You’re telling someone outside the group.
- kita = we (including the listener). Use this if you mean “you and I (and maybe others)”.
- If you’re speaking to your teammates who are part of the “we,” say: Kita butuh fokus agar tugas selesai.
Is butuh the same as perlu or harus?
- butuh = need (tends to take a noun object): Kami butuh fokus.
- perlu = need/necessary (can take a noun or a verb): Kami perlu fokus / Kami perlu bekerja.
- harus = must/have to (takes a verb): Kami harus fokus. Stronger obligation than “need.”
Can I use membutuhkan instead of butuh?
Yes. membutuhkan is the formal/long form of butuh.
- Neutral/informal: Kami butuh fokus agar tugas selesai.
- More formal: Kami membutuhkan fokus agar tugas selesai.
Is fokus here a noun or a verb? Could I say berfokus?
- In Kami butuh fokus, fokus functions as a noun (“focus”).
- You can use verb-like forms, but pick the right one:
- berfokus (pada …) = to focus (on): Kami perlu berfokus pada tugas.
- memfokuskan (sesuatu) pada … = to focus something on: Kami memfokuskan perhatian pada tugas.
- berkonsentrasi is also common: Kami perlu berkonsentrasi.
- Kami perlu berfokus is grammatical but sounds more formal/less common than Kami perlu fokus or Kami perlu berkonsentrasi.
Why use agar instead of untuk? What’s the difference?
- agar/supaya/biar introduce a full clause with a subject + predicate (purpose/result): agar tugas selesai (“so that the task is finished”).
- untuk introduces a verbal/noun phrase (purpose): untuk menyelesaikan tugas (“to finish the task”).
- So you can say either:
- Kami butuh fokus agar tugas selesai.
- Kami butuh fokus untuk menyelesaikan tugas.
Can I use supaya or biar instead of agar?
Yes:
- agar = more formal.
- supaya = neutral/standard.
- biar = informal. Example: Kami butuh fokus supaya/biar tugas selesai.
Why is there no “to be” before selesai? Shouldn’t it be “is finished”?
Indonesian usually drops a copula. Adjectives/stative verbs can be the predicate by themselves. tugas selesai literally reads “the task finished.” No “to be” is needed.
Is tugas singular or plural here?
Indonesian doesn’t mark number by default. tugas can mean “task/assignment” or “tasks/assignments,” depending on context.
- To make it clearly plural: tugas-tugas.
- To specify: tugas itu (that task), tugas kami (our task[s]), tugasnya (the task / his/her/their task, depending on context).
What does -nya add if I say agar tugasnya selesai?
-nya often marks definiteness or possession:
- tugasnya can mean “the task” (definite) or “his/her/their task.”
- If you mean “our tasks,” it’s clearer to say tugas kami: agar tugas kami selesai.
Can I put the purpose clause first: Agar tugas selesai, kami butuh fokus?
Yes. That’s natural, a bit more formal, and you should add a comma:
- Agar tugas selesai, kami butuh fokus.
Is Kami butuh untuk fokus acceptable?
It’s best to avoid butuh untuk + verb; it often sounds translated from English. Prefer:
- Kami butuh fokus (noun object), or
- Kami perlu fokus / perlu untuk fokus (with perlu, both are acceptable), or
- Kami harus fokus (if you mean “must”).
When should I use selesai vs menyelesaikan vs diselesaikan?
- selesai (stative/intransitive): the task ends/gets finished by itself in wording: agar tugas (bisa) selesai.
- menyelesaikan (active/transitive): someone finishes something: untuk menyelesaikan tugas.
- diselesaikan (passive): something is finished (by someone): agar tugas dapat diselesaikan (oleh tim).
- Very formal/literary: terselesaikan (gets resolved/completed).
Should I add bisa/dapat before selesai?
You can. It adds the nuance of possibility/ability:
- agar tugas bisa/dapat selesai = so that the task can be finished. Without it (agar tugas selesai) sounds a bit more goal-focused/neutral.
Can I drop the subject and say Butuh fokus agar tugas selesai?
In casual speech, omitting the subject is possible if context makes it clear. As a standalone sentence or in writing, keep kami/kita to avoid ambiguity.
What’s a more formal/polite version for workplace communication?
Examples:
- Agar tugas dapat diselesaikan, kami perlu menjaga fokus.
- Kami perlu tetap fokus agar pekerjaan dapat selesai tepat waktu.
How do I say “We need to focus on X so that Y”?
Use berfokus pada or memfokuskan … pada:
- Kami perlu berfokus pada kualitas agar proyek selesai tepat waktu.
- Kami memfokuskan upaya pada perencanaan agar hasilnya optimal.