Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Manajer kami ramah dan jelas saat menjelaskan tugas. - Our manager is friendly and clear when explaining tasks.

In Indonesian, adjectives can function as predicates without a linking verb. So Manajer kami ramah literally reads “Our manager friendly,” which means “Our manager is friendly.”
You generally don’t use adalah before adjectives. Use adalah before a noun phrase:
- Correct: Manajer kami adalah orang yang ramah (Our manager is a friendly person).
- Not natural: Manajer kami adalah ramah.

What exactly does saat mean here? Can I use ketika or waktu instead?

saat and ketika both mean “when” (time of an event). They’re neutral to slightly formal and interchangeable in most contexts.
waktu also means “when,” but it’s a bit more casual in this use.
Very casual: pas.
Examples (all mean roughly the same thing):
… saat menjelaskan tugas
… ketika menjelaskan tugas
… waktu menjelaskan tugas
Very casual: … pas ngejelasin tugas

Why is there no subject inside saat menjelaskan tugas?

Indonesian allows a “zero subject” in a subordinate clause when it’s obvious the subject is the same as in the main clause.
You can make it explicit if you want: saat dia/ia menjelaskan tugas or, for respectful reference, saat beliau menjelaskan tugas.

Is jelas acting like an adverb here? Should it be dengan jelas?

Indonesian often uses adjectives as adverbs of manner. jelas can directly modify how someone explains.
dengan jelas or secara jelas are also correct; dengan jelas is common and clear; secara jelas sounds a bit more formal/technical.
All are fine:
- ramah dan jelas saat menjelaskan
- ramah dan dengan jelas saat menjelaskan

Do I need tentang after menjelaskan?

The standard pattern is menjelaskan + direct object: menjelaskan tugas (“explain the tasks”).
menjelaskan tentang … is common in speech but often considered wordy or redundant. Prefer:
- Dia menjelaskan prosedur (He explained the procedure), not necessarily … tentang prosedur.
Use tentang if you’re saying “about” without making that thing the direct object: berbicara tentang tugas (“talk about tasks”).

What’s the difference between kami and kita?

Both mean “we/our,” but:
- kami = exclusive (the listener is NOT included)
- kita = inclusive (the listener IS included)
Manajer kami implies “our manager (not yours).”
If you’re speaking to a teammate about your shared manager, say manajer kita.

How do I show plural “tasks” or “the tasks” in Indonesian?

Indonesian nouns are number-neutral. tugas can mean “task” or “tasks” from context.
To emphasize plural: tugas-tugas, berbagai tugas, beberapa tugas, semua tugas.
To mark definiteness (“the tasks”): tugas-tugas itu, tugas tersebut, tugas yang dimaksud.

What’s the difference between tugas and pekerjaan?

How is manajer spelled and pronounced? Is manager okay?

Standard Indonesian spelling is manajer (from English “manager”). Writing manager is considered English, not standard Indonesian.
Pronunciation tips: manajer with a clear j like in English “jam.” The r is tapped/flipped.
Related words you may hear: atasan (boss/superior), pengelola (manager/administrator in some contexts).

What’s the word formation of menjelaskan?

Root: jelas (“clear”).
Affixes: meN- + -kan → menjelaskan (“to make clear; to explain”).
There is no menjelasi; the correct form uses -kan.
Related forms: penjelasan (an explanation), jelaskan! (imperative: explain!).

How do I say who the explanation is given to?

Pattern: menjelaskan [something] kepada [someone].
- Dia menjelaskan tugas kepada tim. (He explained the tasks to the team.)
In casual speech, kepada is sometimes shortened to ke, but kepada is the standard/preferred form.

Can I put the saat… clause first?

Does the sentence describe a general habit or a specific event?

Without time markers, it often sounds habitual or generally true.
To make it a specific recent event, add time words:
- Tadi saat menjelaskan tugas, manajer kami ramah dan jelas. (Earlier, when explaining tasks, our manager was friendly and clear.)
To mark habit: biasanya/selalu:
- Manajer kami selalu ramah dan jelas saat menjelaskan tugas.

Is ramah the same as baik or sopan?

ramah = friendly, warm, approachable.
baik = good/kind/helpful (broader “good” quality).
sopan = polite, well-mannered.
All can describe people positively, but ramah specifically highlights friendliness.

Is jelas the same as tegas?

jelas = clear, easy to understand.
tegas = firm, assertive, decisive (tone/stance).
You can be both: tegas tapi jelas (firm yet clear).

Is saat sedang menjelaskan okay, or is sedang redundant?

sedang marks an ongoing/progressive action (“is in the middle of”).
saat already gives a time frame, so saat sedang can feel redundant, but it’s acceptable for emphasis:
- Manajer kami ramah dan jelas saat (sedang) menjelaskan tugas.

Any casual, everyday alternative to this sentence?

Very casual: Manajer kita ramah dan jelas pas ngejelasin tugas.
- pas = casual “when,” ngejelasin = colloquial for menjelaskan. Use this in informal speech only.

Do I need yang anywhere here?

No. yang introduces a relative clause that modifies a noun. In your sentence, saat menjelaskan tugas is an adverbial time clause modifying the whole predicate.
You would use yang if you build a noun phrase:
- Manajer kami yang ramah dan jelas saat menjelaskan tugas itu dipromosikan. (Our manager who is friendly and clear when explaining tasks was promoted.)