Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya membeli patung kecil di pameran seni. - I bought a small statue at the art exhibition.

The basic root is beli (to buy).
The prefix meN- (here realized as mem- → membeli) turns it into a standard active verb form, often a bit more formal or neutral.

beli = buy (root form; very common in spoken, informal Indonesian)
membeli = to buy / bought (active verb, common in writing and neutral/formal speech)

Both are correct, but membeli sounds more complete and slightly more formal, which fits this example sentence well.

Can I also say Saya beli patung kecil di pameran seni? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say Saya beli patung kecil di pameran seni, and it is very natural.

Saya membeli patung kecil... – a bit more formal/neutral, what you’d expect in writing or careful speech.
Saya beli patung kecil... – more informal, everyday conversation.

Grammatically both are fine; it’s mostly about style and formality.

How do we know this means “I bought” and not “I am buying” or “I will buy”?

Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense like English verbs do. Membeli by itself is time-neutral.

The sentence Saya membeli patung kecil di pameran seni could mean:

I bought a small statue at the art exhibition.
I buy a small statue at the art exhibition.
I will buy a small statue at the art exhibition.

The actual time is usually clear from context or from extra words:

Past: Saya tadi membeli... (earlier today), Saya kemarin membeli... (yesterday)
Present continuous: Saya sedang membeli... (I am buying… now)
Future: Saya akan membeli... (I will buy…)

Why is it patung kecil and not kecil patung for “small statue”?

In Indonesian, descriptive adjectives usually come after the noun.

patung kecil = small statue
(literally: statue small)
rumah besar = big house
baju baru = new clothes

So the pattern is noun + adjective, the opposite of English.

Why isn’t there a word for “a” in “a small statue”?

Indonesian does not use articles like a, an, the.

Patung kecil by itself can mean:

a small statue
the small statue
small statues (general)

If you want to emphasize “one” statue, you can say:

Saya membeli sebuah patung kecil.
(sebuah is a general classifier, roughly “one (item of)”)

Can patung kecil also mean “small statues” (plural)?

Yes. Indonesian usually does not mark plural on the noun, so patung kecil can mean:

a small statue
small statues
the small statue / the small statues

To make plural explicit, you can say:

patung-patung kecil = small statues (reduplication to mark plural)
beberapa patung kecil = several small statues
banyak patung kecil = many small statues

Context often makes it clear whether it’s singular or plural.

What exactly does pameran seni mean? Why is the order like that?

Pameran seni is:

pameran = exhibition, show
seni = art

So pameran seni literally means “exhibition (of) art”, i.e. art exhibition.

This follows a common pattern: the main noun comes first, and the modifying noun comes after:

pameran seni = art exhibition
toko buku = book shop (shop for books)
guru matematika = math teacher (teacher of math)

So Indonesian [main noun] + [modifier] where English often has [modifier] + [main noun].

What is the function of di in di pameran seni? Is it like “at”?

Yes, di is a preposition that usually means in/at/on, depending on context.

di rumah = at home / in the house
di sekolah = at school
di meja = on the table
di pameran seni = at the art exhibition

So in this sentence, di pameran seni = at an art exhibition.

What’s the difference between di pameran seni and ke pameran seni?

di pameran seni = at the art exhibition (location)
ke pameran seni = to the art exhibition (movement/direction)

Compare:

Saya membeli patung kecil di pameran seni.
I bought the statue at the exhibition.
Saya pergi ke pameran seni.
I went to the exhibition.

What’s the difference between saya and aku here?

Both mean “I”, but they differ in formality and relationship:

saya – polite, neutral, used in formal situations and with people you don’t know well or should respect (teachers, bosses, older people, etc.).
aku – informal, used with friends, family, or people close to you.

In this sentence, Saya membeli patung kecil... is neutral/polite.
In a casual context, you might say:

Aku beli patung kecil di pameran seni.

Can the subject saya be dropped, like just Membeli patung kecil di pameran seni?

Indonesian can drop pronouns when they’re clear from context, but:

Membeli patung kecil di pameran seni. on its own sounds more like a fragment, e.g. a note or a short answer, not a full neutral sentence.

In real conversation, you might hear something like:

Beli patung kecil di pameran seni.
(as an answer to: Ngapain tadi? – “What did you do earlier?”)

So yes, the subject can be omitted if it’s obvious, but Saya membeli… is the fully explicit, complete form.

How would I say “I am buying a small statue at the art exhibition (right now)”?

You can add sedang to mark a current ongoing action:

Saya sedang membeli patung kecil di pameran seni.

This clearly means you are in the middle of the action now (or around now).
Without sedang, Saya membeli patung kecil di pameran seni is more time-neutral and can be interpreted as past, present, or future depending on context.