Breakdown of Tips sederhana berguna saat belajar.
adalah
to be
belajar
to study
sederhana
simple
berguna
useful
saat
when
tips
the tip
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Questions & Answers about Tips sederhana berguna saat belajar.
Why is the adjective after the noun in tips sederhana?
In Indonesian, adjectives normally follow the noun they modify. So you say tips sederhana (simple tips), not sederhana tips.
Do I need yang (as in tips yang sederhana)?
No. Yang isn’t needed for a simple noun + adjective phrase. Use yang when you want to restrict or emphasize:
- Tips sederhana berguna (simple tips are useful, generally).
- Tips yang sederhana itu saja yang berguna (only the ones that are simple are useful).
Is berguna an adjective or a verb? Do I need a “to be” verb?
Berguna is an adjective meaning useful. Indonesian doesn’t use a separate “to be” before adjectives. Tips sederhana berguna literally reads as “simple tips useful,” i.e., “Simple tips are useful.”
Why not use adalah here?
Adalah is typically used when the predicate is a noun phrase, not an adjective. You wouldn’t say adalah berguna. If you make the predicate a noun phrase, adalah fits: Tips sederhana adalah hal yang berguna (Simple tips are a useful thing).
Is tips singular or plural here? How do I show number?
Indonesian usually doesn’t mark number, so tips can mean tip(s). To be explicit:
- One: satu tip or sebuah tip (avoid “satu tips”).
- Plural emphasis: reduplication tips-tips, or use quantifiers like beberapa tips (some tips), dua/tiga tips (two/three tips).
You can also use the native word kiat (plural emphasis: kiat-kiat).
Does tips here mean advice or a monetary tip?
Here it means advice/tricks. For money you leave at a restaurant, say uang tip (or just tip in context), not tips.
What does saat mean, and how is it different from ketika and waktu?
All can mean “when,” with slight nuances:
- saat = “at the time/moment (of).” Very common and neutral: saat belajar (when studying).
- ketika = conjunction “when,” also neutral/formal: Ketika belajar, …
- waktu = “time/when,” more conversational: Waktu kamu belajar, …
You’ll also hear pada saat (more formal) and colloquial pas: Pas belajar, …
Why can belajar appear without a subject? How do I specify it?
Indonesian often drops the subject when it’s understood. Saat belajar can mean when I/you/we/they are studying. To be explicit, add the pronoun: saat saya/kamu/kita belajar.
Can I say berguna untuk belajar instead of berguna saat belajar?
Yes.
- berguna untuk belajar = useful for the activity of studying (purpose).
- berguna saat belajar = useful at the time when you are studying (time frame).
Both are natural; choose based on the nuance you want.
Can I add sedang to show “while (someone is) in the middle of” studying?
Yes: saat sedang belajar or ketika sedang belajar both mean “while (someone is) in the middle of studying.” Sedang marks an ongoing action.
How do I make it specific, like “The simple tips are useful”?
Add a demonstrative after the noun phrase:
- Tips sederhana itu berguna saat belajar (those/the simple tips are useful).
- Tips sederhana ini berguna saat belajar (these simple tips are useful).
Can I move the time phrase to the front?
Yes: Saat belajar, tips sederhana berguna. Fronting saat belajar is common for emphasis or flow; add a comma.
Is di saat or pada saat okay?
They’re used, but saat alone is usually best. Pada saat is more formal. Di saat appears in speech but is often considered wordier; many style guides prefer saat.
How do I negate or soften berguna?
- Negate: tidak berguna (not useful).
- Soften: kurang berguna (less useful), tidak terlalu berguna (not very useful).
Could I use mempelajari instead of belajar?
Use mempelajari when there’s a specific object and the sense is “to study/learn (something) in depth”:
- … saat mempelajari matematika (… when studying math).
Plain belajar is general and can stand alone or take a broad field: belajar / belajar matematika.